Staying ahead of the peaks and troughs of an Irish summer

Kitty Scully offers advice on efficient management of water to keep your garden in mint condition.

Between May 10 and the end of June, a mere 43mm of rainfall was recorded in Airfield Estate, Dublin. Needless to say plants are suffering and the same rings through across the country.

The cold temperatures in May sprung a slow start to the season and this followed by a consistent dry spell has many plants in a state of confusion and stress.

The simple fact is that every living organism needs water and for plants vital processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and absorption of nutrients will not occur in its absence. Basically plants need water to grow, flourish, flower and fruit and it is paramount during dry spells that a maternal eye is maintained.

Gardening in a country synonymous with rain and ‘fifty shades of green’ has meant that most people find periods of drought a lot harder to manage than periods of intense rain.

Plants, especially those growing in containers need to be checked at least twice a day and the general rule is to water gently and thoroughly rather than little and often.

A good soaking encourages plants to put down deep roots and find the water they need. The, ‘water the soil, not the plant’ mantra is important to remember as water is taken in by the roots and evaporated by the leaves.

Water can be delivered to plants in many ways ranging from basic to high-tech irrigation systems.

There are several options available for home gardeners but clearly availability of time, layout of garden and finances are the key deciding irrigation factors. Watering cans and hoses are relatively cheap to buy, work well but require time to operate.

If hoses are lengthy, be careful not to damage plants whilst dragging them around the garden. The best way to avoid this is by installing guides at the end of each bed. These can be metal or wood, just pick a theme that suits your garden.

If time is limited and areas that require watering are large, check out the myriad of sprinkler systems, drip-line hoses and other watering gadgets on the market.

Choose one to suit your own needs and ensure you purchase all the right connectors and fittings to get you up and automatically watering.

Plants absorb water through their roots so it is best to direct water to the base of a plant as opposed to watering leaves, flowers and stems. This will also help discourage the spread of fungal diseases such as downy mildew and potato blight.

This indicates that sprinklers are one of the least efficient methods for vegetable growing, unless direct sown lawns, meadows, seedbeds and grain feature in the garden plan.

Soaker hose systems are one of the best options and are ideal for rows of plants with the same watering requirements.

The water passes along ‘leaky’ or porous pipes and drips into the soil through small holes. These can be operated manually but clearly work best when a timer is in place allowing watering needs to be met for designated durations and set times throughout the day.

When it comes to watering, the golden rule is not to water in the heat of the day, as most of the moisture will be lost to evaporation. Watering is best carried out early in the morning or late evening.

For the evening option, ensure there is enough time for the plant leaves to dry and be warned, slugs love wet ground and are predominantly creatures of the night. Different plants have different watering needs, so it’s good to grow plants with similar needs together.

Some crops, e.g. tomatoes, and all plants in containers need a lot of water in the heat of the summer. If plants in containers dry out, it is advised to steep them in a bath of water for a number of hours for rehydration.

Water conservation is a key issue so it makes sense to ensure that water is not just evaporating and is getting directly to the roots where the plant can access it.

A good mulch is a valuable addition to any vegetable garden for numerous reasons, with the conservation of soil moisture being one of the greatest boons.

After watering, the application of either natural or synthetic mulches will help decrease evaporation and hence decrease the amount of water you will need to apply. Mulches can also be applied over drip irrigation.

By keeping soil moisture more uniform, drought-induced problems (like blossom-end rot of tomato) can also be reduced.

It is widely accepted that rainwater is the best water for plants as it doesn’t contain any of the dissolved minerals of tap water and it is free.

One exception is seedlings and it is best advised not to water seed trays with rainwater as the fungi that cause dampening-off disease in seedlings are aquatic dwelling and will flourish in still bodies of water such as water barrels.

Seedlings aside, it makes good garden sense to invest in a rainwater-harvesting butt to ensure that all your garden water will be plant loving and free.

There is a range of watering butts in different sizes available to buy but you could try making your own, sparing your bank account and helping the environment by using recycled materials instead.

Check out http://www.makingyourown.co.uk/make-your-own-water-butt.html  for lots of inspiring ideas and step by step instructions on water butt building.