It’s Time to Stop Watering the Garden This Fall.

Put out the watering can: the season is over, and everything you watered is now just a habit. Before the rain even starts, it’s time to wean yourself off the hose.

Watering is a religion for gardeners. Some people like to spend time walking and hosing down water. Others like the routine peace of mind that the sprinklers are going on at the same time and for the same duration every day. However, we all want to make sure our sweet children are taken care of and you did a great job.

Temperatures have dropped and humidity is returning.

The fact is that plants do not need daily watering because they, like people, need a shower; Whether they need water depends on the soil moisture. During the hottest periods of the year there is drought. Even with proper mulching (and the correct amount is quite large ), the roots can dry out, so watering at the base is important. But with the fall just around the corner, even the hottest areas are turning the corner. Your temperature may still be in the 80s, but if it has dropped, your plants won’t be under as much stress. Watering every day is probably not necessary and you should start staggering the timing of your plants. Around this time of year I go once a week for a good, thorough soak, but nothing more. Obviously, you want to test the soil moisture a few inches below to see if it feels cool and moist. If so, your plants are still in the green zone and don’t need water. If you have a smart watering system , chances are it takes this into account.

Although potted plants retain less moisture because they are in a pot (and many are in terra cotta, which actually draws moisture out of the soil), they also need less water, although a little more than your above-ground plants. Check in the same way by checking the soil moisture with your finger. When you need to water them, I recommend you use the watering method .

Your nightshades will ripen faster with less water.

Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants really benefit from the thirst this time of year. We want every tomato on the vine to ripen, and a good trick is to turn off the water, which is what I did last week. Occasional rain at this time of year should be sufficient for these plants, unless they really look like they are struggling, in which case you want to water them at the base but not soak them.

Now, to be clear, you are stressing the plant by cutting off the water. That’s why they ripen. If you sympathize with your plants, this may be stressful for you too, but a ripe slice will soothe your pain.

Your annuals and most of your vegetables are the walking dead.

We care for our plants until the very end, but the reality is that the time is near. It’s autumn. These annual flowers and vegetables cannot survive when nighttime temperatures drop below 40F for several days. So cutting costs by saving some water and coins is not cruel. These plants have everything they need at this point to make it to the end.

It is best to ruthlessly cut out spent plants. If they don’t produce, you lose the spot. Clear them out and plant something for fall instead. Remember that some fruit may fall in and ripen , or you can move the entire plant inside with a little effort.

Exceptions to this advice: don’t water.

If you’re planting grass (and now is the time), those sprinklers should remain on. Seeds require constant moisture to germinate. This means that anything you sow outdoors, such as carrots, beets, onions or radishes, also needs water. Your fall seedlings, if they have been planted, also need enough water to keep the soil moist at all times.

I have always loved watering by hand. It was a time during the day when I could walk around, see every detail of my garden, talk to the plants, birds, squirrels and how my blood pressure lowered, which meant I could skip the yoga. The thing is, you don’t have to pour water to get the same meditative effect. So, tomorrow morning, go outside, tell the crows what’s what, but leave the sprinklers off.