Clarify Conflicting Information About How Much Water A Garden Needs

Question From: Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Q: on this page (http://gardening.yardener.com/Drip-Or-Soaker-Watering-Systems) it states that the garden needs 1 inch of water/week and on this page ( http://gardening.yardener.com/Watering-At-Soil-Level) it states 1/2 inch of water/week ....wondering if you would clarify this for me, dougal

A: Sorry for the confusion Dougal. Current wisdom, including the pros, recommends 1-inch of water a week. In hot dry weather 1 1/2 inch may be required. Every yard is different because of the soil content, tree cover and exposure. I recommend using an inexpensive soil moisture meter to test the soils in various areas of the yard to get an idea of the needs. Hope this clears the air. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy