In the San Joaquin Valley, water conservation is very important. We want to make sure that our landscapes are provided with their water needs, but not at a cost to the environment. The way that you water your raised bed can make the difference between a healthy, thriving garden or plants that struggle with under-watering, over-watering, and everything in between. With many of us adding raised beds to our gardens, you may wonder what is the best way to water them?
Irrigation systems provide the best ease of use. You’re able to install them once and leave them in place all season long. If you use an irrigation system you can avoid the nuisance of dragging hoses around the yard. As easily as turning on a spigot you can water your plants.
Installation is a breeze! Usually with just a pair of scissors you can create the hose lengths that you need for your garden beds. The irrigation system will help conserve water by offering more personal customization options, such as watering only the plants and not the path, you can also add a timer, and have it run on its own!
Even if the system is on a timer, you should occasionally check it for a dead timer battery, a leak in a line, or over or under-watering. Proper monitoring will help you to prevent the health of your plants from being adversely affected or water being wasted from flooding.
Your irritation system will help you to prevent under-watering stress in your plants. You can watch for signs of heat stress, but also help it to develop some heat tolerance by not over-watering. When watering less often, but deeper, you can conserve water.
The timing of watering is also important. With our hot summers, it can be useful to set your timer for early in the morning. This way plants are able to absorb more moisture and be fully hydrated before the daytime heat. Adjusting the system based on the weather and the needs of your plants will prevent unnecessary waste and expense. The plants will also avoid being stressed which can lead to pests and disease.
Raised beds are useful ways to add a garden to your landscape for fresh herbs, veggies or flowers. They are also easy to maintain and can provide you with the added health benefits derived from gardening. Using an irrigation system to water raised bed gardens is both a cost- effective and environmentally conscious decision.