Less is more
You might think you’re doing the right thing by giving the garden a quick sprinkle everyday, but thorough watering less often is a better approach. Plants absorb water through their roots so it makes sense to deliver water as close to the root zone as possible. Give them a good long soak less often which will encourage deeper root growth. Also, many plants are much tougher than we think, so we need to be careful we’re not over-watering.
If you’re hand watering, a spray gun is a must have. Nylex’s range of Spray Guns have one-handed flow control and instant click on/off control so there’s no wastage. Or if you’re looking for a more hands-off option, the Oscillating Sprinkler Plus is the most versatile sprinkler in the Nylex range. With adjustable spray patterns, you can ensure it only waters exactly where you need.
Timing is everything
If you can, try and get out and water early in the morning before the sun heats up to reduce water loss to evaporation. Tap Timers are a handy solution, letting you ‘set and forget’ watering during the cooler hours of day, and they help to prevent overwatering mistakes from forgetting to turn the tap off.
Stop the leaks
Leaky taps, hoses and fittings can waste a lot of water, so choosing the right fittings can make a big difference. Nylex’s Hose Connectors with Stop Valves come with a nifty built-in feature which stops the flow of water when swapping between watering accessories. This means you can click off one watering accessory and put on another one while the tap is still running without water spurting everywhere.
Watch the weather
It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast too, to prevent unnecessary watering before rain is on the way. A Rain Gauge or Weather Station can help monitor the amount of rainfall in your garden so you can see if your plants are getting enough.
Retain moisture
Give your soil a little TLC with some compost, which helps to reduce the amount of watering that your plants need by improving soil structure and its ability to retain moisture. Adding a layer of mulch to your garden beds also helps the soil retain moisture and reduce evaporation, thus reducing the need for excess watering.
