In the Garden: Southern California Coastal & Inland Valleys
April, 2008 Regional Report  Share |  Buried 5-gallon nursery
containers enable deep watering without your attention.  Water
Deeply So Plant Roots Grow Deeply  Early spring is the time to
teach plant roots to grow deeply for their life-sustaining
water. By consistently providing moist soil deep in their root
zones (2 to 12 inches deep), you'll save on time and the amount
of water you must give them during hot weather. In spring, for
average soils, water deeply but not frequently -- only once
every two to three weeks.  During periods of long, hot weather,
plants need more frequent and longer irrigation than during
periods with more moderate temperatures. In addition to the
weather, the texture of your soil determines the amount and
frequency of irrigation to apply to your garden. One inch of
irrigated water will soak down to different depths, depending on
how heavy your soil is: 12 inches deep in sandy soil, 9 inches
deep in loamy soil, but only 3 inc