Water wisely

During our hot months it’s critical to keep moisture loving plants thoroughly hydrated.

Water wisely

When is it best to water?

Providing a long soaking hose, ideally first thing in the morning is better than light sprinkles as it encourages deeper rooting. This helps give plants better pest and drought resistance.

How to know how much to water?

If you’ve had good rainfall of more than 25 millimetres in the past week, then you won’t need to water.

How to retain moisture?

  • Adding organic matter to your soil will improve its ability to retain moisture as well as mulching.
  • Mulching to a depth of 75-100mm provides an effective weed-suppressing layer and helps maximise moisture retention in the soil.

However, remember to keep the mulch a few centimetres away from the stems of your plants since if they are covered, they may rot.

Special care for Container plants

  1. Container plants need more water than those in the ground due to their restricted soil area.
  2. Give them a good soak at least three times a week on very hot days.
  3. Succulents will also need watering regularly this month to keep them looking healthy.