How to Water Your Herbs
One of the most important aspects of herb garden care is proper watering. Each herb has its own preferences in terms of how much water they need. Some herbs like a lot of water, while others prefer rather dry conditions. If you are very particular about getting your herbs water requirements correctly, you can group herbs in terms of how much water they need.
Since herbs come in varieties, there will be some herbs that have similar wants and needs when it comes to water and sunlight. Planting similar herbs next to each other can speed up your watering process. This is because you can water sections of your garden similarly, making it faster for you to water the entire garden.
Watering Options
There are several types of watering techniques for your herb garden. The first type of watering is individualized watering. This means you will be putting a particular amount of water on each plant. The water is usually given through a watering container, and the water is applied at the base of each plant. This can be tedious, but it works very well at making sure your plants are watered correctly, and that the water goes deep into the soil. The advantage is that you get to examine each of your plants on a regular basis.
The second watering technique is shower watering from above. This is the classic type of watering we see in movies and commercials. We see a gardener using a hose to water their plants by spraying them with water from above. Though it is an acceptable way to watering your plants, you are not sure if the water is trickling down into the roots. Some gardeners call this surface watering or overhead watering, only the top part of the plants and soil are getting watered.
This can lead to plants that have a weak root system below because they are reliant on water moisture from the soil's surface. It also uses more water to properly water your herbs, and you are likely to have to water your herbs more often in order to keep them happy. If a drought happens or period in which your plants are not watered occurs, your plant is likely to have a difficult time because they are not accustomed to sucking water from the ground.
What's more is regular surface watering can lead to the soil becoming hydrophobic or repelling water. This means your plants will not be properly watered, and you will have to address your soil's condition through sprays and liquid solutions. It is better for you to water your plants by soaking the soil well and infrequently than shower watering your plants regularly. Soaking the soil once and then allowing it to dry for a few days will force your plants to look for water deep in the ground, developing their roots, and giving them a strong root system.
Page Two: Two More Plant Watering Methods (How to Water Your Herbs continued)
