Let’s be honest…
Most people are pretty good at the fun part of gardening.
You come in, wander the paths, fall in love with a few beauties, load up the car, plant them out…
…and then?
Well… sometimes they’re left to “sort themselves out.”
That’s where it all goes pear-shaped.
🌿 You’ve Invested the Time – Now Give Them a Fighting Chance
You’ve taken the time to:
✔ Choose the right plants
✔ Prepare the soil
✔ Get them in the ground properly
So it only makes sense to look after them properly from day one.
And that starts with one thing…
👉 Watering properly.
💦 Deep Watering – The Game Changer
The most important water your plant will ever get is the first one after planting.
Not a quick sprinkle.
Not a “that’ll do.”
We’re talking a good, deep soak.
Why?
Because deep watering:
✔ Settles the soil around the roots
✔ Removes air pockets
✔ Encourages roots to grow down (not sit shallow)
Shallow watering = shallow roots = stressed plants.
Deep watering = strong roots = happy plants.
🪴 Pots Need More Love (Yes, Even Outside)
This one catches people out all the time…
“It's outside, it’ll be right.”
Not quite 😄
Plants in pots dry out much faster than plants in the ground.
- Less soil = less moisture holding
- Sun hits all sides of the pot
- Wind dries them out quicker
👉 That means regular watering is a must
At Lumpy’s?
We water every day.
Some plants don’t need quite that much…
…but most do, especially in pots.
☀️ Warm Weather = More Water
In the warmer months, things ramp up quickly.
You might find:
💧 Once a day isn’t enough
💧 Pots drying out by lunchtime
💧 Plants starting to droop
That’s when you step it up—
👉 Sometimes twice a day
Morning and afternoon is ideal.
❄️ Cooling Weather – Time to Adjust
Now this is where a lot of people come unstuck…
When the weather cools down, you don’t stop watering—
…but you do need to be a bit smarter about it.
👉 Avoid watering too late in the day
Why?
Because cold, wet soil overnight can:
- Stress roots
- Lead to rot
- Slow plant growth
Best time?
✔ Morning (always the winner)
🌱 Check the Soil (Don’t Guess!)
Here’s a simple tip we always give:
👉 Stick your finger in the soil
- Dry? → Water
- Still damp? → Leave it
It’s that easy.
Don’t water on autopilot—check first.
🌿 Feeding Matters Too
Watering keeps plants alive…
Feeding helps them thrive.
Especially in pots where nutrients get washed out quickly.
Regular feeding will:
✔ Boost growth
✔ Improve flowering
✔ Keep foliage lush and healthy
A good quality fertiliser (like the range from Searles) makes a big difference.
🌼 A Few Extra Tips from the Pros
From years of experience (and plenty of gardening shows backing it up):
✔ Water the soil, not the leaves
✔ Mulch helps keep moisture in
✔ Wind dries plants faster than heat
✔ New plants need more attention than established ones
✔ Don’t rely on rain—sometimes it’s just not enough
🌿 The Lumpy’s Way
We say it all the time…
👉 “Plants don’t die… they’re trying to tell you something.”
And more often than not?
It comes down to watering.
Get this right, and everything else becomes a whole lot easier.
🌼 Final Thought
You’ve picked them.
You’ve planted them.
Now give them the best shot to thrive.
A bit of water, a bit of care…
…and before you know it, your garden will be looking really fantastic.
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