After making every effort, finally, I am the proud owner of a whining garden. Most of the times I have ended up in the yard with a hose in hand, standing and wondering – when I will be free from the daily chore of watering my garden? Knowing the love and hate relationship with gardening in Toronto where I live, I bet it’s not unlike yours.
Here’s what I’ve figured out in the course of my mistakes, learning from my mistakes and making a couple of embarrassing phone calls to the experts at TreeDoctors (Yes, even garden enthusiasts sometimes need intervention). So when is it safe to allow your indoor plants more independence? Well come on, let’s get on with the when, how and most importantly the reasons for tapering off (without completely transforming your beautiful foliage to a lifeless desert) the watering routine.
Signs You Can Save a Little Using the Hose
First things first, all the plants are not equal. Some of your green friends are divas who want to be watered every day while some are like please just let me go. So what are the indicators that tell you it is time to put away your hose for a bit?
1. Once Established, The Plants Are Not Constantly Seeking Support
Once your plants are older and settled into the nice spots in the garden, they usually do not require watering every day. It is kind of like this — when a plant is purchased and brought into a new house, it is almost like adopting a puppy – for all the attention and care that is needed constantly. But as they age, and also become much more mature, they can be left for a while with no food.
In most cases, after the first growing season, plants develop extensive root systems that would allow them to dig deeper for moisture. Therefore, they won’t be requesting water on a daily basis from you.
So, how does one achieve clarity on whether the plants have “grown up”? Get down to check the soil. If it’s wet 2 to 3 inches into the surface even after a few days passes, your plants say, “Why worry? We can handle everything.”
2. Mother nature too has her role
In the wisdom of my grandmother, she said to “let the rain do the work.” If this tip sounds like the typical lazy gardener’s tip, there is some truth in it. The weather in Toronto for instance can either make a gardener’s life a joy or a nightmare depending on what season it is.
For the months that experience rainfall, your plants are being quenched by the water sources present in the environment. And determinedly, Toronto has about 80 mm of rainfall on average during summers which can get the moisture to your garden. Naturally, still, you always have to check the weather report because the dry season could force you into the hero of hydration once more.
3. Temperature and Season Matter
Here’s the deal: During the cooler months (imagine spring and fall), there is less battle with watering the plants as he does in the summertime heat. The cooler atmosphere signifies that there will be less moisture loss through evaporation and thus, excess water stays in the soil for some time.
If you are still going about the business of watering your plants once each day even in cool autumn weather, you need to kiSss. Dedicate a deserving hand, and then knuckle down. Fall comes and plants need fewer and fewer amounts of water since they are starting to go dormant for winter.
Guilt-free Transition from Watering Every Day; Here is What to Do
Now that you know when it’s probably okay, how about doing it without a plant rebellion? I know this very well. I have done that. Leaving a plant unattended for weeks and coming back to sad, drooping leaves is an experience every plant owner would want to strike out from their life.
1. Deep Watering Is the New Marriagе
Cease giving your plants shallow water every day. Instead skip a number of days and deep water a few times a week. Deep watering helps establish roots deeper into the soil, thus, with time making your plants more drought tolerant. It is like this – Instead of giving your plants food every day, you teach them where to get food. Or in this scenario, a hose.
2. Apply mulch like an expert
If you have not mulched your garden yet, what are you waiting for? Mulch keeps the soil moist, prevents water loss, and holds the temperature of the soil. Plus, it gives the garden a clean, well groomed appearance as if a person has everything in control even when in reality, the situation is quite different.
A good 2 to 3 inches of mulch around your plants will ensure that your plants are hydrated for a longer period, which is less work for you (and fewer panicked trips for the hose).
Why They Should Not Allow the Plants to Go Without Water for Too Much Time
I know what you’re thinking—Well, if you say so, I can just decide to stop watering until I feel like returning. The answer is: not so fast. Although it may be possible to pass these phases without entirely letting too much vulnerability to nature, there are a few threats to do so too early.
1. Wilting and Browning
Your plants may look fine today then day after tomorrow or even the next day they all of a sudden show signs of wilting and browning like a salad that has been lying in the fridge for three days. This situation is especially common among houseplants owing to water deficiency. Don’t worry you only need to give water and for sure they are going back to their old ways (hopefully without any hostility).
2. Shallow Root Systems
When the schedule for watering is cut too early, shallow root systems in plants could develop. This makes them more susceptible to drought and becomes less self-sufficient in the future. You do not want your plants to be strong-willed, self-sufficient, and able to live within long dry periods every now and then, do you?
Call the Experts If You’re Unsure
Look, I love my garden, but I am not an expert in it. It would not be the first nor the last time that I called the specialists because I felt I was torturing my plants to death without realizing it. That’s where TreeDoctors comes in. If you are having a hard time maintaining control over your garden, or terrible uncertainty trapped you regarding when watering would not be necessary anymore, their Toronto arborist services may be for you. They understand precisely what your garden requires in order to flourish under our peculiar weather conditions.
The Bottom Line
Watering the garden is the same as saying let me tend to you, but I think there comes a time when it is possible to taper it off a little bit without bad feelings. Once there are established plants and the seasons change, healthy soil and good old rain can all help keep the garden that we watch over healthy. And should you somehow have any doubts, just bear in mind that you have the TreeDoctors on your phone not quite but on speed dial.
Hence, at which stage is it ok to forgo watering the garden every day? The answer is, earlier than expected. Just be sure that you are attentive to the needs of the plants, and soon you will be able to have a beautiful garden, which requires minimal effort in maintaining it. And who knows, maybe one day you will even be able to put that hose away for good…at least until the next heatwave comes!
