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I know this sounds unbelievable, but in my lifetime, the only plants we watered were newly transplanted seeds and seedlings in the vegetable garden, newly planted shrubs, perennials and annuals on the flower beds, as well as potted plants and window frames. But we have been watering for about ten years. Gardening means watering, especially now that drought and "exceptionally dry conditions" are becoming more common in Maine.

All plants-seedlings and seeds of trees, shrubs, vegetables, and flowers-need to be watered when they are planted. I use watering buckets to water them, and fetch water from our rain buckets if they are not empty. I water the newly planted trees and shrubs every day for the first month, and every two or three days for the rest, depending on how hot and dry the weather is.

Once completed, the garden needs an inch of water per week, more of a heat wave. Vegetable gardens require more water than perennials, which may require 1.5 inches per week because their roots are not yet in place in the winter. Take a rain gauge and check it every time it rains. Make up the difference between the dropped and the recommended watering. There is also a meter that can measure how much water you pour with a sprinkler. Ours, rotating 360 degrees in the vegetable garden, it takes at least four hours to drop an inch of water.

Drip irrigation-intentionally placing the leaking hose directly above or directly below the soil-is ideal because it wastes less water (no evaporation), but it should be installed when the garden enters. The plant does not care how the water has been delivered. If you use an overhead sprinkler, water it in the morning, because plants that are wet overnight are more susceptible to fungus. But plants will not refuse to shower at night, so if that is when you have time to water, then do it. If you have time and need to exercise, you can walk in the garden with a hose and water each plant individually.

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