How Much Watering Do Your Plants Need? 3 Factors Every Gardener Needs To Know

Trying to figure out the appropriate amount of water needed to sustain the life of your plants is the trickiest part of running any garden. Too much water can literally drown your flowers and not providing enough water can cause a perennial to dry out and die.

In order to be successful with your garden, you must get the watering part of your maintenance plan "just right". Keeping your perennials alive and well with the right amount of water depends on the following factors:

1. The Weather: The weather changes constantly and because heavy rains and moisture can come and go at any time, you must take stock of the weather conditions and adjust watering your perennials accordingly. And when it comes to extreme weather conditions that can be a danger to your plants, there is little that you can do. For example, a thunderstorm can easily wipe out your flowers and if the temperatures reach scorching levels, your plants may not survive.

2. The Climate: Climate and weather are two different variables, although new gardeners may not understand that. Weather is simply the action that is happening outside at this very moment, while the climate is the measure of weather over a long period of time. There are areas where rainfall is considered the norm for 80% of the year. Other areas have climates that are considerably drier and high in humidity. You must take inventory of the climate you live in in terms of getting the appropriate amount of water to your perennials.

3. The Soil: Different types of soil have a large impact on how much water your garden needs. Not all soil is created equal. If your ground contains a lot of sand, then it will hold moisture effectively for your plants. On the other hand, if you're soil contains a large percentage of clay, then it will deflect much of the water from being absorbed. There are other variables that make up soil types so in order to get your watering just right you will need to determine the exact makeup of your soil in particular.