Does Watering Needs Change during Autumn?

The arrival of autumn brings with it many changes to your garden. If you intend to continue working in your garden throughout autumn, you’ll need to modify your approach a bit. Your watering habits should be adjusted as the weather cools down.

Autumn is a Time when Your Garden Requires Less Water

Watering frequently in summer is a crucial part of a gardening routine. Due to the summer heat, a lot of water will evaporate from the soil in your garden. Plants are getting a lot of sunlight, so it’s important to provide them with adequate water to take advantage of that sunlight and promote growth. Watering your plants on a regular basis during the summer (perhaps every day, depending on your climate) will prevent them from becoming thirsty and stunting their growth. Autumn brings about a change in the watering needs of your plants. Less water evaporates during the day in cooler weather. As your plants receive less sunlight and grow more slowly, their roots will require less water. Overwatering your plants can cause root rot and fungal diseases to take hold if you don’t adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Your garden can be severely damaged by either.

What is the Recommended Watering Schedule for Autumn?

Watering won’t be necessary during autumn in a rainy climate where at least an inch of rainfall is received every week. If you don’t, you’ll have to keep watering your garden until the ground freezes. When it’s warm (60°F) and there’s no rain, water your plants 2-4 times per week. Watering can be reduced to once a week when the temperature drops to 40°F. Most of your summer plants are likely to be killed by the first hard frost in late autumn, but hearty fall plants such as root vegetables can withstand frosts. Watering once a week can continue for as long as the temperature stays above 32°F. As freezing temperatures arrive, it’s time to put an end to watering and start winterizing your garden.