We always have a washing up tub in the sink to catch all the water we use when simply running the tap for a few seconds. The quick hand wash, cleaning fruit & veg. Surprising amount of water.

My tip is to weed while you water - the watering makes it easier to pull up the weeds, you can wash the soil from the weed roots to retain it, and as you pull up the weeds, it's a handy way to see how dry the soil is that comes up with the weed.

We use dirty sheep fleece as mulch, it is free from local farmers, comes with free manure, breaks down over time and also works wonders in early colder season. It also really keeps the moist in!

Fun fact (which I learned from a Bill Bryson book). Our nerves can't actually feel 'wet'. We can feel hot, cold and texture, and a combination of those tells us if something is wet or not. If you have your clothes drying on the line on a cold day it's hard to tell if it's still damp or just cold. Or if a baby pees on you at body temp while you're changing their nappy you wont' realise until it starts to cool (you know how I know!). So a feeling a combination of cold and squishy, rather than warmer and crispy, shows you if your plant is drying out.

I like the bit where Ben is watching his "favourite KZfaq channel" @7:48 :) Even though I've heard these tips before, I often forget when I see a wilting plant and too hastily reach for the watering can before thinking or testing with the methods described here.

Hi Ben I’m a 55 year old American and just planted my first vegetable garden this spring. I found your channel a couple weeks ago and have been binge watching. Love your channel and all the great tips!! Keep up the enthusiasm and great work!!!

In between my tomato plants I've dug in plastic pots. I water into these, like a cheap Olla. The water goes straight down to the roots and it does not splash the leaves. It saves greatly on water. I have 8 plants along a dry hot wall, and they are very happy with the one 10L watering can I split amongst them every morning.

Great tips.👍 Let's just say, I've NEVER over Watered anything in a Pot. May they RIP. Lol. TFS GV, & take care everyone. ❤🙂🐶

Thanks for the chuckle. “Sometimes it can go a surprisingly long time without rain, thee to four weeks!” We can go 6 - 8 months without rain here in California sometimes!

Yes, I’ve also found that watering twice is good. I watered one of my plots and thought I’d soaked it but when I went to plant my seeds the soil was dry underneath the very top surface. Now I water twice and I’ve found it works better.

When I rebuilt our bungalow I ensured that the roof was used to capture as much water as I could. Two large tanks take water storing 5,500 litres of water in underground storage tanks. A submersible pump provides 3 bar pressure (45psi) and this is piped to my allotment for use in the water butts. I don’t water directly from the hose as I found in my first year of use that I emptied the tanks in only three weeks! Lesson learned 👍🏻

Some people use tomato halos to help with watering. A cheaper alternative is just to cut rings a few cm high from old, broken plastic plant pots or plastic buckets, put them in the soil in the planting area and then plant your young plants. I do this for tomatoes but also pumpkins and squash. The plastic ring sits an inch or so above the soil line and this lets you really focus watering around the base off the plant without water just running off. I basically just add water to the top of the ring and it all soaks down onto the root ball. This also means the surface outside the ring remains drier and so discourages slugs.

I plant all my plants in slight depressions - similar idea to the tomato halos nitelite78 mentioned. Water will collect in them during rains, or I can easily water with little to no runoff if the weather's dry. We're lucky enough to have a pond on our property; it's too mucky to swim in, but between the turtles and koi and other residents, the water is full of nutrients and organic matter. I put an inexpensive sump pump in the pond and pump the water up to my garden. The plants love it and it doesn't stress the well we use for the house.

Love your cheery videos, Ben! Thanks for all the great tips! I live in Florida where last week the air temp next to my garden in the sun was 114 F. I just installed shade cloth, 40%. I’ve seen videos that say for veggies it’s important not to exceed 30 or 40%. Checked temperature under the shade cloth and it has been 8 to 10 degrees cooler. Really helps but it is something of an experiment for me.

👍...Excited about Pollinators 🐝 next time!😁

We use the kids paddling pool water throughout summer. This way the chlorine has a few days to off gas, and the paddling pool is constantly refreshed.

Ben waking up in the morning and watching himself on TV 😂

Thank you! Your videos are much appreciated and very informative. Much love and gratitude from Scotland where I'm doing my best to grow fruit, herbs and vegetables. 💜

With my job, I don't wake up until 12-1pm and was watering midday! I shall switch to after work. Thanks for the tip 👍

I live in central France. For the last 4 years we've had hose pipe bans, even to being fined for using well, spring or rain water So we recycle the bath water in the 18 metre x 4metre polytunnel. We syphon the bath water into a "holding tank" and I water 3 beds each day over 6 days. On the 7th day I give every bed a drink of fresh water to help prevent the build-up of soap in the soil. No easy task lugging watering cans about 60 metres down to the tunnel . Just imagine how many trips I have to do with 18 beds to do. But for me it's worth it for all the fresh vegetables.

I think you're right about watering twice. Often dried out soil seems quite hydrophobic, and quite easily just flows through containers, but if you prime it first and come back, it's much more able to hold the water than just let it pass through. Good topic, it's amazing how dry soil sometimes stays even after watering...someone should do a cross section video one day!

I have some sloping beds and water just runs off when it's dry. I've started using drinks bottles filled with water, lids off and a couple of pin pricks in the bottom so the water slowly drips out over an hour or so. I put these at the base of my plants so all of the water gets to the roots, it saves loads of water and time

Another great video! Thanks Ben! Just one little tip - dump out any water left in the soaking trays to prevent mosquitos from breeding. I left a bucket out and was absolutely horrified at all the wriggly larva that appeared in a flash!

I've been mulching with my grass clippings and it makes a world of difference in terms of moisture retention and soil temperature. It also nearly eliminated soil borne disease and helps with weeds.

Thanks Ben, I learn something I can use in every single one of your videos. I keep a bucket in the shower to catch the cold water before it warms up enough to get it. When I wash dishes by hand I do the same with a big pasta pot in the sink. I let them cool and then into the garden. I also have a rain butt but could use a second. Luckily (?) in Scotland so far the summer it's been solidly wet every few days so those really thirsty potatoes haven't needed anything from me except grass clippings.

I've used cardboard and layers of newspaper as mulch. Not only did they keep the soil from drying out, but they acted as weed barriers too. And they also breakdown and amend the soil.

I have found that old bamboo blinds make great shade covers. I place a panel of metal mesh (4" openings) over my bed like a hoop tunnel and drape a "matchstick" type bamboo blind over the top whenever we get a heat wave.

I've made ollas for all my tomato plants from large terracotta pots. I put a coin at the bottom to cover the drain hole (A looney or tooney works well if you have access to Canadian coins) secured with calk, and use the pot dish as a lid. In my maritime climate the tomato plants really struggle with blossom rot and all kinds of mildews, so using ollas really helps take the water to the roots and keep it off the stems and leaves. I fill up the pot with water every few days, and it will gradually release moisture to the soil and roots where it's needed. In fall when I remove each pot I find tomato roots grown all around them.

4 weeks without rain...oh what a joy that would be! here in Perth we have 6 months!

I use the round soaker hoses that put the water right where I need it. I burry it with grass clippings around the plants so the moisture stays longer

I live in zone 9b, low desert. Watering twice is mandatory here for getting water deep enough, and daily watering of pots June through mid September. Shade cloth and mulch ( I use 3 inches of straw) are mandatory here to keep produce from burning, and hopefully conserving water too! I appreciate your you Tube show and never miss- Gardengirl in Nevada

This video made me a subscriber, thanks brother🙌🏽🤙🏽

I'm in New Zealand and have a 1200 litre overflowing into a 900 litre, on the other side I have a 450 litre tank overflowing to two 100 litre bins. Also off the garage a 250 litre, also off my shade house another 250 litre guttertank. Helps with water bills! And lovely soft water. Great site.

if buying an IBC try and get a black one, or if not paint a white one with bitumen paint, I thin this with a bit of white spirit and it's very quick and effective to paint. black ones prevent light and stop algy forming in the water, they look better too. cheers

Timing of this video is spot on as I too am "enjoying" the Oklahoma heat - about 20 days over 100 and counting. However, my garden wishes it was September/October And, no rain as we have had just .2 inches - 5mm in a month. Trying to stay ahead of the heat drying out the soil is becoming a daily checkup. I have a moisture gauge I use to check the soil moisture and water accordingly. Planning for second season is being impacted, and potentially delayed as the ground temp in my various beds is between 89 and 109 degrees, and today is one of our cooler days. ☀☀☀🥵😎 On the other side the heat is doing wonders for my cantaloupe and watermelon.

Thank you very much Ben, for the watering tips! Now you've inspired me to collect rainwater!

7:49 Ben watching Ben. I love this guy lmao

We're using left over woodshavings to mulch ours. It's handy as there's too much of it to just add it to our compost but, this way, it still ends up composting down. We can't install a water butt here on our rented house but when the shed goes in we'll be puttinv one on that!

Thank you for all the good information! I have about 3500 sq ft of garden here in North Florida, US. We have extremes of weather here, and from mid-June through September, cope with heat in the upper 90's and low 100's, periods of heavy rain and drought, unbelievable disease and pest pressure, mainly because it never gets cold enough, long enough to kills things off. It's a challenge, but we do have pretty much year 'round gardening. Many use weed fabric, which I've found to be expensive and tends to be an ideal environment for fire ants (fire ants come from the depth of Hell itself - they sting and cause painful, puss-filled blisters!). Mulch here pretty much harbors pests, but we do use pine needles and straw, if we can be assured of getting straw that hasn't been treated with Grazon. What works for me for watering? I use buried drip tape. My garden is divided into two Zones, and each Zone had 30 ft rows with buried drip tape. Depending on the crop, I plant either single (on top or beside the tape) or double (on either side of the tape), and can water in the most efficient way. The water goes directly to the roots, and has less evaporation, and it keeps weeds down because I'm not watering between the rows. Overhead watering here promotes disease, and the humidity here is very high. On outrageously hot days, however, I will run an overhead sprinkler just to cool plants down.

I collect and water with rain water. It's quite easy in Scotland 🤣

I live in Idaho (USA) and in the summer, the County opens up the ditch water system so farmers can water their crops. With that in mind, they also offer it to homeowners who can connect to it much like you would for City water. Two years ago, our well pump broke and I nearly lost all my trees and plants, so we decided to connect to the ditch system. The only problem I have now is that I have so much water, I think I am OVER watering. Many of my plants have gone to seed and I nearly lost my entire strawberry patch. It is starting to warm up with triple digit temperatures, but I've disciplined myself to watering twice a week and checking in-between to be sure the soil is moist below. My over-watering has also caused a slight earwig problem which I've promptly addressed. So, yes. I've learned that over-watering is not a good thing. This was a great video.

Just the advice I was seeking. Thank you 🌱

I even leave a couple garden buckets put when it rains. I'm always surprised how much you can get from that. Just make sure you cover it after the rain or use it. Cause bugs and critters love to get in there.

Like the info and the humor!

one of my Neighbours has just started adding wool into the compost they make. i shall look into it myself. i have seen local garden centre starting to sell it as well. seems like a new popular trend.

Thank you! Very helpful!

Another helpful, cheerful and relaxing video! Thank you so much. You have such a beautiful garden. I love to see it thriving. My idea is not so much for watering but for preventing evaporation: I planted a bedding plant (lobelia) around my container cucumbers. The lobelia covers the soil around the cucumbers and seems to be doing a good job of preventing the containers from drying out too quickly. I actually did this because I grew lobelia from seed and had more plants than I did containers! But it seems to be working really well. I also invested in a water catchers/plates for each container. That's also made a huge difference with both preventing water loss and making sure plants soak up their weekly feed.

Who knew Harry Enfield was so into gardening, I was waiting for Paul Whitehouse to jump out of a bush......BRILLIANT!! 🤣 Seriously though, I really enjoy these tutorials and they are sooo beneficial when it comes to my own allotment. Looking forward to the next one chum 😁👍🙏 Got any tips for outside grape vines in the UK?

Thank you for these tips. Very helpful!

Thank you my friend! Amazing info

Ben, Lovely! Thnk you!!!

My way is not to water little and often but to water once in a while with a large volume of water. That way the water goes deep and plant roots chase it down rather than coming to the surface where they are at risk of drying out.

I plant my veggies in shallow (2" - 3" deep) trenches, fill the trenches with mulch and, when they need water, place my garden hose in the trench and fill it with water. Using a soaking hose in the trench also works well.

I bought a moisture probe and it's revolutionised my watering! I do about a quarter of the watering I did as I didn't realise that just under the surface the soil was either moist or wet.

No mosquitos today!! We had 4 days of rain in our whole season. Nov to Apr. Nicole in Menlo Park Calif USA

Beautiful.

Thank you sharing your excellent experience.

I think home gardeners should think about putting at least a good part of their beds on drip irrigation to save time and ensure even watering. The rest can be hand-watered, and that's good because it's important to regularly get out in the garden and inspect for issues anyway. Gardens don't work too well on autopilot.

I have two rain barrels that collect water from the house and garage. I could probably use another one. Together, they collect 110 gallons of water. I have miniature butterfly and button bushes beyond the reach of my hose, so these rain barrels come in handy for those and other beds.

Thank you! Your videos are the best!

Thank you Mr Ben : )

Thanks for sharing

Can’t recommend a watering lance enough… no bending and the watering head can be moved around the base of plants without wetting the leaves. I would never go back to the traditional hand gun attachment. I have a more expensive Geko one, but my £25 B&Q (U.K.) one is just as good and nice and light.

Straw going down tomorrow - another fab video -thank you

Hi Ben, great video with lots of useful tips for watering. Thanks for sharing and take care 🙂

Rain water off my roof in two of the large water containers. One for the horses and one for the garden. We rigged the end cap to fit a hose nipple with reducing pipe and a connector. Well off to water right now before church. Y’all have a blessed Sunday, and remember..the best fertilizer is prayer !

Hi from zone 5 in Iowa, US. I mulch with straw. I water deep & I use a "moisture meter" to check the soil in my raised beds & containers to see if they need watering. I can go for a week without watering. The soil stays wet. lV your videos.

Thank you!!!! From a beginner gardener 😁🙏🏼

I use grass clippings on my raised beds, but I don´t dry them out. As long as you cover with at most an inch of green clippings, there do not appear to be any adverse effects. They dry out pretty quickly on the beds themselves and cut watering down considerably. I mow the lawn every 10 to 20 days and just top up the mulch. I live in N.W. Spain, Galicia and although this summer is pretty dry it probably rains as much here as it does in the UK.

Thank you for this - this U.S. northeast heat wave (40°C) has been stressing my container tomatoes so much! I will try your method of also watering in a tray from below!

Thank you!🙏🏼♥️

Thank you.

I break up the soil around large plants/trees and between rows, with a small fork and water directly to the aerated area. This prevents run-off, and helps get the water down deep and quickly. I am going to try using a wetting agent too, this may help prevent run-off, then I’ll mulch around the base.

Thanks so much Ben! I love your very helpful and fun videos and the garden planner is fantastic! Ive used it the past two years and its so easy!

Great tips, the one about water from underneath and the mulching are really going to help me.

Thank you

Morning and thanks!

Thanks Ben 👍 , very interesting

Great job Ben. I think you covered the basics very well. Here in water-starved, drought-stricken Sacramento, Ca, zone 9b, I irrigate ALL my beds with drip irrigation and lots of mulch of different varieties. I use lawn clippings and sometimes get mulch from tree trimmers in the area, I also make compost in a 90 gallon barrel that only takes a few months to process. I use organic fertiliser and fish emulsion during the continual growing season.

I use the drip irrigation system and it works well in Oklahoma! This year is another dust bowl year! It has been over 100 for the past two weeks and no rain for a month so far! Terri le!

Thank you for sharing so much on your channel! My 5 year old and I have enjoyed watching the segments and using the techniques in our garden.

You're in fine fettle today! (I also drink my morning coffee while watering.)

I actually use a moisture meter for my grow bags as they tend to dry out faster than my raised beds. My yard has a slight slope, so one end of my raised beds tends to be more moist. So I'll use the moisture meter on that higher end to ensure everything is okay. I water in the morning when I'm off or teleworking from home and in the evenings when I must go into the office. I agree with some of the other comments, that weeding is easier with wet soil.

Love your channel. Keep up the great work. I will keep watching for sure 🌸

Another great video Ben fantastic tips

I do the same as you. One time around and then again another round, to ensure the plants actually get some water without runoff. It makes a huge difference especially in grow bags.

I am watching my favourite KZfaq channel at 6.30 in the morning. Thanks for the tips. Really useful and timely.

I'm testing dug in clay pots and self-made Ollas build out of clay pots to hold some moisture close the plants. While the Ollas seem to work, I might have a leak on some O I need to improve this for next year. The clay pots (hole sealed with bees wax) is holding water well and with pot coasters on the top it's not evaporating. Ollas seem to work better because it goes for down into the soil while some plants with clay pots are still struggling.

Just found your channel 👍Info rich and well presented.. and seems I've got a lot of catching up! Thank you

Hi Ben, i use a Water Butt if possible but at the moment in this weather the Water Butt is really low, so at the moment it's the Hosepipe for now but i do mulch with Coco Coir wood chips which dissolve in the soil. Take Care and Stay Safe. Barry (the Wirral)

I have clay soil which turns into cement during a dry spell. I also garden on a very large area and a have a well. I have 2 rain barrels and also collect the water from my dehumidifier in the cellar. Good video. Thank you!

Thanks Ben great information on watering Theres a big difference between container n ground gardening I've made these mistakes over watering Love your videos 😊 👍

Thanks for all your posts… so helpful to me a new gardener 🌸… Shalom from Florida

I really enjoy your videos!

Love this guy

To water my garden is one of my absolute favourite things to do in this world. So calming, soothing and I love how it smells combined with all the green. 💚 Though, after overwatering cucumber plants in hot summer, I actually resorted to terracotta pots for my potted outdoor plants as well as fabric grow bags. This was easier than to change myself, but I am working on it 😁 Yes, I killed cucumber by overwatering. We have 6 large barrels to collect rain water, and they are spread around all corners of our house. Also, on built structures out in the yard. I would like some drip system, at least for some beds, but for now I´ll have to make do with the barrels. (Will use the hose when the barrels are empty). I mulch as much as possible.

Most of my planters (tomatoes, cucumber, herbs, strawbs) and all of my hanging baskets (flowers) have a built in reservoir, so I water directly into that and the plants drink as they need it. I have drip hoses in the border and in pots that don't have a reservoir (connected to different timers as they have different requirements e.g how long to water them, and how frequently - the timers are connected to soil moisture meters) so everything gets watered from 6 am and I can stay tucked up in bed :-) The only thing that I struggle with is my patio blueberries, they're in two pots of ericaceous soil but I don't have a downpipe or surface to run rainwater off so I occasionally have to give them tap water. This is my 2nd year so I'm hoping for a crop but it's not looking good so far!

I use my sump water pumped to a water trough (40 gals). Install an electric submersible pump attached to a standard hose and nozzle. I have 4 spare 20 gallon plastic carboys I keep spare water from sump. I mix fish emulsion in one these to fertilize and hand water using a barrel pump into hand cans.

I built an under soil irrigation system for raised beds. I used 22.5mm plastic over flow pipe because you can joint it with JG Speed fit 22mm fittings. I drilled 1mm holes along each piece on 100mm centres. The pipes are buried about 100mm from the surface and have been pretty effective.

Good-day Ben and Rosie!👋 Great info...much of which I learned the hard way.😀 As usual I learned something new! I just started collecting rain water this year and wasn't too sure about using the water when it goes green. It's nice to know I can still use it.🌻 We are in another week of temps between 103 and 107. I'm looking forward to fall.😃 Looking forward to next week knowledge drop!😃 Stay hydrated! 💕