All About Home and Garden

So your garden soil is prepared your vegetable choices are selected and you have collected the seedlings and seeds. Your next step is to plant and continue the journey to a bountiful harvest. Of course there are some concerns ahead. Watering your vegetable garden is the very minimum amount of work you'll need to do. Others include taking care of weeds, fertilizing, and fending off pests.

Moisture Levels

Preserving the correct amount of moisture is a crucial component in vegetable care. When it comes to watering your garden, rain is the best followed by ground level irrigation. But, most people don't know how to lay out an irrigation system for their garden, as it requires a good amount of setup and cost. So, a sprinkler or a hose with a sprinkle attachment will do the job nicely. Remember don't damage your plants with a heavy stream of water. A light, gentle sprinkle will ensure your seeds aren't washed out and your roots don't get water logged. You do want to be sure to give your plants sufficient water so the soil stays loose but not muddy.

If you do go with an drip irrigation system, you'll find that it's more efficient with the use of water. This is best suited for rows, as you can then run straight lines for your drip lines. Soaker hoses are probably the simplest form of drip irrigation systems, and are perfect for small home vegetable garden use. Lay them out so they are at the base of the vegetables. Another advantage to the drip irrigation system is that it allows you to water extremely slowly, emulating the best type of irrigation - natural rain.

The moisture in your soil is affected by more than just heat. If the humidity is low then evaporation from the soil will increase, and wind will draw moisture away quickly as well. You want to avoid watering your plants during the times the sun is brightest to avoid burning your leaves. If you see that your plants are a bit wilted before 10 in the morning you can water them without worry, after 10 you should wait for the sun to go down.

Manage with Mulch

After you have planted your garden, give vegetable care a helping hand and lay down mulch around all of your plants. Mulching benefits your garden in several ways: first, it preserves moisture in your soil, helps to reduce disease, keeps the soil aerated, and slows or prevents soil erosion. Your garden's need for watering will be reduced as moisture levels are better maintained underneath the mulch layer.

Mulch also helps to keep weeds at bay. Organic mulch adds nutrients to the soil as it breaks down, feeding your vegetables. Good mulching will extend the growing season by keeping the soil warmer longer. Compost, straw, wood chips, and lawn trimmings are wonderful examples of organic mulch.

While landscape fabric can be used with mulch or be a substitute for it, it is best not used in very hot areas. It should also be avoided for crops that require cooler growing temperatures.

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