Garden practice: Water on target: Simple, practical irrigation techniques can help maximise water's benefit to crops and newly established plants

摘要

Whether irrigation water comes from a water butt or from the mains supply, it is always a valuable resource that should be used as effectively as possible. Long-established plants can often survive on rainfall alone, even in periods when the supply issparse or sporadic, but newly planted or recently moved plants need reliable moisture to encourage root growth and establishment. Irrigation is important in ornamental and vegetable gardens. Trees and shrubs, grown for fruit or as ornamentals, require regular supplies of water through the first growing season after planting as do border perennials. Similarly, annual vegetables and seasonal bedding benefit from irrigation after planting-out to encourage growth. Extra water is also needed for established fruit bushes and vegetables at critical times in the development of the annual harvest.