How to Water Your Garden in Summer (and Use Less Water)

By Ann, gardener and garden designer at Ann's Garden Heaven

When summer finally arrives, watering can feel like a full-time job. But watering more isn't the same as watering well. Done right, you'll use less water, spend less time with the hose and grow healthier plants with deeper roots that cope far better in a dry spell.

Here's how I water my garden through a British summer.

The golden rules

1. Water in the morning or evening

Early morning is best: the soil is cool, less water evaporates, and plants have a full drink before the heat of the day. Evening is the next best option, but water the soil rather than the leaves – damp foliage overnight invites slugs and mildew. Avoid the middle of the day, when much of the water simply evaporates.

2. Water deeply, less often

A light sprinkle every day only wets the surface, so roots stay shallow and plants wilt quickly. A good soak once or twice a week encourages roots to grow down to where the soil stays moist. As a guide, a thorough watering for a border is about a 10-litre can per square metre.

3. Aim at the roots

Point the spout or hose at the base of the plant, not over the leaves. Water that lands on leaves mostly evaporates or runs off – and wet leaves can scorch in strong sun.

4. Check before you water

Push a finger into the soil up to the second knuckle. If it feels moist, leave it another day. If it's dry, it's time to water. Our Garden Weather page shows how much rain is on the way, so you'll know when you can skip it.

Who needs water most?

• Pots and hanging baskets – they dry out fastest. In hot weather, check them every day; hanging baskets may need water morning and evening.
• New plants – anything planted in the last year, including trees, shrubs and hedges, until their roots are established.
• Seedlings and young veg – shallow roots mean they can't reach deeper moisture.
• Fruiting crops – tomatoes, courgettes, beans and strawberries need steady watering, especially once they flower. Irregular watering causes split fruit and blossom end rot on tomatoes.

Who can cope? Established shrubs, trees and lawns rarely need watering. A brown lawn looks sad but almost always greens up again after the first good rain – save the water for your plants.

Step-by-step: watering a pot properly

1. Check it's dry – lift the pot; a dry pot feels much lighter.
2. Water slowly until water runs out of the drainage holes.
3. Wait a few minutes, then water again. Very dry compost shrinks from the sides and water runs straight through – the second watering soaks in.
4. If it's bone dry, stand the whole pot in a bucket of water for 30 minutes to rewet it.
5. Empty saucers after an hour so roots don't sit in water.

Save water – and time

Collect rainwater

A water butt connected to a downpipe can collect a surprising amount from a single summer storm. Rainwater is free, and plants – especially acid-lovers like blueberries, camellias and rhododendrons – prefer it to tap water.

Mulch, mulch, mulch

Spread a 5–7cm layer of compost, bark or leaf mould over damp soil in spring. It locks moisture in, keeps roots cool and smothers weeds too.

Group your pots

Cluster containers together, ideally in light shade during heatwaves. They shade each other and create a more humid microclimate.

Use water-retaining compost

For hanging baskets and pots, choose compost with added water-retaining granules, or mix some in at planting time.

Choose the right tools

• A good watering can with a detachable rose – for pots, seedlings and precise watering.
• A hose with an adjustable spray gun – switch to a gentle "shower" setting for beds.
• Soaker hoses or drip irrigation – lay them along veg rows or borders and they deliver water straight to the roots with almost no waste.

Going on holiday?

• Give everything a deep soak the evening before you leave.
• Move pots into the shade and group them together.
• Stand smaller pots in trays with a few centimetres of water.
• Ask a neighbour – and offer them some of your harvest in return!

Shop this guide

• Garden Watering – watering cans and watering essentials

Water wisely and your garden will be greener, healthier and far less work – leaving you more time to sit back and enjoy the summer.

– Ann

Photos from Wikimedia Commons, shared under Creative Commons and similar free licences. Follow each link for the photographer and licence.