Assessing water need
Clever gadgets aside, gardeners still need to understand how much water plants actually need, and when and how to water for the best results.
Water should be directed underneath the foliage. There should be enough to wet the top 30cm (12in) of soil, where most plants’ roots are - or should be. Too little water just wets the soil surface and either does not reach the roots or encourages them upwards where they tend to dry out. An excess will drain out of reach of the roots and be wasted.
Harvesting the rain
Traditionally, for many gardeners, the collection of rain has been limited to a water butt or two. Even with regular rain topping them up, it is clear that as many as half a dozen water butts are unlikely to meet all of a gardener’s watering needs during dry spells and hot summers.
Read more for suggested solutions and advice on harvesting the rain