It is no secret that every plant needs a steady supply of water and nutrients in order to survive. With this said, they get they food from the sunlight so it is the responsibility of the gardener to provide the water. Luckily, a garden irrigation system can do all the hard work for you! With this said, the industry has become inundated with myths that can make it difficult for beginners and pros alike to figure out the correct approach. Read on as we bust some of the biggest garden irrigation myths around…  

Myth: Adding gravel to containers will improve the drainage   

Whilst it is true that gravel does drain incredibly quickly, it shouldn’t be added to the bottom of plant pot containers. After all, it has the opposite effect when you do this because gravel does not behave like soil and this means that any water will pool at the bottom of the pot rather than be absorbed. In order to reduce water wastage and prevent plants from drowning, you should add a high quality planting soil to the bottom of your containers as this will ensure high-quality drainage and airflow.  

Myth: Wilted plants are a sign to water  

Most people see a wilted plant and take it as a sign that you need to water them immediately but it is important to remember that some plants will actually wilt on purpose in order to conserve water. In fact, it happens as a result of a process called transpiration and the leaves will intentionally turn rigid in order to reduce their surface area and therefore reduce water loss. The best thing to do is regularly water your garden using an irrigation system in order to ensure that they are sufficiently hydrated so that you can  easily differentiate between intentional and unintentional wilting.   

Myth: One inch of water per week is suffice  

Sticking to a simple rule may sound easy enough but the idea of watering a garden with one inch of water per week isn’t accurate enough. After all, there are many different external factors to take into consideration such as the size of the garden, the plants that are growing and what time of year it is as  these factors are what will determine the volume of water that is required and the frequency of watering to implement.  

The secret to preventing water wastage lies with high quality soil, an investment in automatic watering systems like drip irrigation and thick mulch. In fact, a watering system can be personalised with timers in order to ensure that your plants receive the most appropriate water supply possible. Here at Easy Garden Watering, we specialise in the installation of irrigation systems which is why we have taken it upon ourselves to bust some of the most suborn myths in our industry. To find out more information about the benefits of drip irrigation, get in contact with a member of the team today!