Reader Janet Maynard has a lot of young bushes in her garden and is suffering from "watering can elbow ”.
Reader
Janet
Maynard
has
a
lot
of
young
bushes
in
her
garden
and
is
suffering
from
``
watering
can
elbow
”
.
So for Janet and anyone else who doesn't want to waste time, effort and water, here are my top tips for keeping plants refreshed in thirsty times.
So
for
Janet
and
anyone
else
who
does
n't
want
to
waste
time
,
effort
and
water
,
here
are
my
top
tips
for
keeping
plants
refreshed
in
thirsty
times
.
Water in the evening if possible, rather than leaving it till you see things suffer.
Water
in
the
evening
if
possible
,
rather
than
leaving
it
till
you
see
things
suffer
.
That way the roots can take up the water in cool soil overnight.
That
way
the
roots
can
take
up
the
water
in
cool
soil
overnight
.
Violently jetting hoses mess up the soil structure and may expose delicate roots.
Violently
jetting
hoses
mess
up
the
soil
structure
and
may
expose
delicate
roots
.
Use a rose on a can.
Use
a
rose
on
a
can
.
Aim low - don't waste water wetting leaves, even though they look pretty and "refreshed".
Aim
low
-
do
n't
waste
water
wetting
leaves
,
even
though
they
look
pretty
and
``
refreshed
''
.
The most valuable and easily damaged plants need the most attention, such as newly planted trees, bushes and climbers.
The
most
valuable
and
easily
damaged
plants
need
the
most
attention
,
such
as
newly
planted
trees
,
bushes
and
climbers
.
Remove any water-keeping mulch you may have put around the base, then water it thoroughly at least two gallons, slowly.
Remove
any
water-keeping
mulch
you
may
have
put
around
the
base
,
then
water
it
thoroughly
at
least
two
gallons
,
slowly
.
Don't aim your can rose at the stem - which we all usually tend to do.
Do
n't
aim
your
can
rose
at
the
stem
-
which
we
all
usually
tend
to
do
.
Aim the water in a wide circle so that the whole of the area under the plant is watered.
Aim
the
water
in
a
wide
circle
so
that
the
whole
of
the
area
under
the
plant
is
watered
.
You could even make a channel in the soil right around the plant so that the water is held in place as it soaks in.
You
could
even
make
a
channel
in
the
soil
right
around
the
plant
so
that
the
water
is
held
in
place
as
it
soaks
in
.
Replace the mulch.
Replace
the
mulch
.
Repeat each week even in showery weather for the first summer.
Repeat
each
week
even
in
showery
weather
for
the
first
summer
.
How much water for pots?
How
much
water
for
pots
?
Fill up the gap between the top of the soil and the top of the pot.
Fill
up
the
gap
between
the
top
of
the
soil
and
the
top
of
the
pot
.
Let the water soak right in and then fill it again.
Let
the
water
soak
right
in
and
then
fill
it
again
.
Do this daily in hot weather for most summer potted plants.
Do
this
daily
in
hot
weather
for
most
summer
potted
plants
.
Stand pots in saucers - it makes a big difference.
Stand
pots
in
saucers
-
it
makes
a
big
difference
.
But remember to check that the plants are not sitting in water for days on end when the weather turns wet.
But
remember
to
check
that
the
plants
are
not
sitting
in
water
for
days
on
end
when
the
weather
turns
wet
.
Roots will rot.
Roots
will
rot
.
If the fertilizer in pots really dries out, the water may get straight out of the pot without being absorbed.
If
the
fertilizer
in
pots
really
dries
out
,
the
water
may
get
straight
out
of
the
pot
without
being
absorbed
.
Correct this by standing or floating the pot in a bucket of deep water until it sinks and no bubbles rise.
Correct
this
by
standing
or
floating
the
pot
in
a
bucket
of
deep
water
until
it
sinks
and
no
bubbles
rise
.
A push-button watering can makes for more efficient watering, and recycled water bottles upside down with a needle which has a hole on the end are useful, too, for pots.
A
push-button
watering
can
makes
for
more
efficient
watering
,
and
recycled
water
bottles
upside
down
with
a
needle
which
has
a
hole
on
the
end
are
useful
,
too
,
for
pots
.
Reader Janet Maynard has a lot of young bushes in her garden and is suffering from "watering can elbow ”. So for Janet and anyone else who doesn't want to waste time, effort and water, here are my top tips for keeping plants refreshed in thirsty times.  Water in the evening if possible, rather than leaving it till you see things suffer. That way the roots can take up the water in cool soil overnight.  Violently jetting hoses mess up the soil structure and may expose delicate roots. Use a rose on a can. Aim low - don't waste water wetting leaves, even though they look pretty and "refreshed".  The most valuable and easily damaged plants need the most attention, such as newly planted trees, bushes and climbers. Remove any water-keeping mulch you may have put around the base, then water it thoroughly at least two gallons, slowly. Don't aim your can rose at the stem - which we all usually tend to do. Aim the water in a wide circle so that the whole of the area under the plant is watered. You could even make a channel in the soil right around the plant so that the water is held in place as it soaks in. Replace the mulch. Repeat each week even in showery weather for the first summer.  How much water for pots? Fill up the gap between the top of the soil and the top of the pot. Let the water soak right in and then fill it again. Do this daily in hot weather for most summer potted plants.  Stand pots in saucers - it makes a big difference. But remember to check that the plants are not sitting in water for days on end when the weather turns wet. Roots will rot.  If the fertilizer in pots really dries out, the water may get straight out of the pot without being absorbed. Correct this by standing or floating the pot in a bucket of deep water until it sinks and no bubbles rise.  A push-button watering can makes for more efficient watering, and recycled water bottles upside down with a needle which has a hole on the end are useful, too, for pots.