I just caught the latest episode of Gardeners' World, and I think I heard Monty Don say that he waters new plants well when he first puts them in the ground, but after that, he never waters them again to encourage their roots to dig deeper for moisture. I get the reasoning behind it, but I just want to confirm if I got it right before my plants end up suffering in the summer heat!
3 Answers
It’s pretty standard to limit watering for plants in the ground. I usually only give them a drink when I’m fertilizing or if there’s a really long dry spell, and even then, it's just a little bit.
Most in-ground plants can handle themselves unless there's a serious drought. Just make sure to keep watering your potted plants regularly; they need that extra help!
Monty's method is more suitable for perennials and tough self-seeding plants, not for veggies or delicate bedding flowers. Just keep that in mind!
Exactly, and don't forget that newly planted perennials often need extra care in their first year, especially in dry spells.