How to Water Flowers

The key to a beautiful garden is the maintenance involved in caring for its plants and flowers.  Knowing when and how to water flowers in a garden, or those in containers, will determine their lifespan and beauty.  Watering flowers is a relatively simple process but it may surprise you to know that there are a few important things to watch out for.

1. The first step in determining whether or not your flowers need water is to assess the plants needs by checking the soil.  If the soil is dry then the plant needs watered.


2. When watering your flowers, be sure to water them slowly until all the soil is moist and water runs out the bottom of the pot or container.  Watering only benefits the plant if the water can reach its roots.  Try to avoid wetting the foliage as this can increase the spread of disease.


3. Be sure to water your flowers only when needed.  Too much water can damage your plants.  It can carry away nutrients and stress the plant.  It can also cause fungal spores and disease.


4. Know your flowers and how far their root systems extend into the ground.  Flowers need to be water deeply to get to the root.  Annuals have a root system that is located in the top 6 inches of soil while perennials have a root system that encompasses the top 12 inches.


5. It is best to water plants and flowers in the morning, before the heat of the day starts.  This gives the leaves a chance to dry out if they happen to get wet.  Watering early also allows the water to soak into the plant instead of evaporating away.  Evening watering of plants does allow for the soil to absorb the water but it does not help excess water on the foliage to evaporate.