• Watering needs vary from plant to plant.Court yard image by Heng kong Chen from Fotolia.com
  
  

Varying Watering Needs

• Plants vary in their watering needs. Vegetables, annuals and most perennials need soil kept evenly moist. Grass, depending on the type, needs about 1 inch of water per week. Some grass types such as fescue are more drought tolerant than others. Kentucky bluegrass requires the most water.
  
  

Varying Circumstances

• Newly seeded grass or sod need watering several times per day. Additionally, newly planted vegetables and perennials need more water than established plants. Clay soil holds water better than sandy soil, thus requiring less water. All plants require more water when conditions are hot, dry or windy.
  
  

Bottom Line

• Buy a moisture meter for vegetable and perennial gardens. You insert this inexpensive instrument into the soil and it tells you when the soil is dry. Water all plants deeply and infrequently to develop strong roots. Frequent quick sprinklings encourage shallow root development. In hot humid climates, water first thing in the morning so plants' leaves dry quickly, minimizing disease.