October 10, 2024, 10:38 am | Read time: 2 minutes
When it rains, hobby gardeners lie back, relax, and take a deep breath. They no longer have to water; the rain does it all for them. But is that true? myHOMEBOOK editor Franka Kruse-Gering reveals whether you should still water your plants after rain.
Rain means that you no longer have to water the garden or water the plants – or so the general belief goes. But this is wrong. Despite the rain, you should not forget to water your plants.
This is why you should water plants in the garden even after rain
Anyone who believes that you can save on watering flowers after rain is mistaken. It depends on various factors.
Watering may be necessary even after it has rained. Plants with large leaves will absorb the rain, depending on its intensity. The soil beneath the plant remains dry, as do the roots. It is therefore important to water even though it has rained. If it has been very dry and warm in the past, you should also water again after rain.
Some plants root deeply, and others root rather shallowly. So-called deep-rooted plants can survive for longer periods without fresh water as they can still find water reserves deep in the soil due to their long roots. Shallow-rooted plants, on the other hand, are dependent on regular fresh water.
You should also pay attention to potted plants
Potted plants on the patio, in the garden or on the balcony also need to be watered after a downpour. The leaves and possibly the flowers of these plants also catch most of the rainwater. If you have drainage in the flower pot, you don’t need to worry about overwatering the plants.
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Should you also water the lawn after rain?
It all depends on the intensity of the rain and your usual watering routine. If you have just watered the day before, you don’t have to stand in the garden and sprinkle again after rain. If you want to be on the safe side, you can take a tip from Dr. Harald Nonn from the German Lawn Society to heart: “To know how long you need to water the lawn to really reach the roots, you can […] use a spade to check how deep the water has penetrated the soil,” he explains in an interview with myHOMEBOOK.