Depending on the weather and type of garden, watering will most likely be a daily activity once the plants are planted into the garden. During hot weather, plants may need to be watered more than once a day. Plants generally require about an inch of water every week and seedlings need more than plants. To reduce evaporation, water the soil directly, not the leaves.
Plants are often watered until the soil looks moist on the surface, but that might not be enough. After watering, test the moisture of the soil by poking a finger about an inch into the soil. If the soil around the roots of the plant is still dry, make sure to water more. There are a number of tools available for watering the garden. Watering cans and garden hoses are the least expensive options, but they are more labour intensive and require close monitoring. Other options include drip irrigation and sprinkler systems. These options ease the chore of watering but are more expensive.
To maintain a healthier garden and lower water bill, consider the tips below to make every drop count:
- Build good soil with soil amendments like compost
- Group plants together according to their watering needs
- Select the appropriate watering system for the garden and budget
THINNING PLANTS (early stages): In order for plants to grow, they need a spacious environment. If plants are too crowded, their growth may be stunted. The process of thinning consists of the removal of plants in their early stages of growth. Thinning helps to reduce the competition among plants for the water and nutrients that are found in the soil. This is especially true for vine crops (e.g., cucumbers, melons and crookneck squash) because they can shade themselves and block sun exposure.
If transplanting seedlings, follow the directions for adequate spacing to prevent the need to thin plants later. If planting from seed, thin the plants to remove any extras when they are small and beginning to grow. Refer to the seed packet for more specific information.
PRUNING & STAKING: Pruning regularly helps support your crops because it takes away the excess growth. Follow the directions for each plant on how to properly prune branches and suckers.
Some plants, especially crawling plants, require additional physical support for proper growth. Use stakes or trellises to help support plants during growth. These can be made out of string and sticks to save money on purchasing garden supplies.
WEEDING: It is not just the look of weeds that is a problem; they can actually harm the health of your plants. Weeds compete for the same resources, sunlight, water and nutrients from the soil that plants need for growth and production. If a weed is visible, pull it! To avoid a more difficult task in the future, remove weeds regularly while they are small to prevent them from developing deep roots. This is a great task that children can be a part of.
To minimize weeds growing in the garden, place cardboard or old newspaper around or between plants to provide a barrier for weeds. Be sure to place mulch, grass clippings, or other organic materials on top of the cardboard or newspaper.
MULCHING: Putting mulch on top of the soil will help keep the moisture in and weeds out. Add untreated and chemical-free materials such as grass clippings, leaves or straw to the garden. This introduces more organic matter to the soil, helps maintain the moisture content of the soil and keeps the plants more hydrated between waterings.
CONTROLLING PESTS: Insects and bugs are a natural part of a garden. Most perform jobs like pollinating plants, recycling nutrients and eating other pests. On a regular basis, examine plants to make sure they are pest free. Use the following tips to help control unwanted pests in the garden:
- Plant the garden with enough room for airflow around plants to avoid fungal diseases
- Place a fence or other protective barrier (weed cloth or row covers) around the plants during the beginning stages of the garden to keep pests away
- Remove pests and any dead or diseased plants
- Grow plants suited for the location of the garden
- Grow plants that will attract beneficial insects and worms, including:
- Cornflower
- Sweet alyssum
- Borage
- Fennel
- Pussy willows
- Mountain mints
- Corn
- Ornamental grasses
- Golden marguerite
- To identify specific pests, refer to the Additional Resources
If pests are still a part of the garden after using these preventive steps, chemical-free household remedies like Weatherly’s Bad Bug Soap Recipe may be an option for eliminating pest problems.
Observing the garden ecosystem is important to the learning process for children. You can incorporate lessons about insects and the environment.
FERTILIZING: Before adding fertilizer to encourage growth, a soil test should be completed. Use the results from this soil test and the directions on the label of the fertilizer to apply it properly in your garden. If you have a compost system, add it to the garden at the start of the season and work it into the soil.