Garden watering by soil type
The same weather forecast means different things on different soils. Sandy soil drains fast and dries quickly, clay holds water for a long time, and loam sits between the two.
How the main soil types behave
Sandy soil lets rain disappear quickly and needs watering sooner after dry spells. Clay soil holds water strongly and can stay moist for days, but it can be slow to absorb water if it has dried hard. Loam — a balanced mix — holds water well and drains freely, which is why it is the gardener’s favourite.
- sandy: drains fast, dries quickly, needs water sooner
- clay: holds water, slow to absorb when hard, rarely needs a lot
- loam: holds water and drains well, the most forgiving
- test by squeezing moist soil: sandy falls apart, clay holds a sticky shape, loam forms a soft ball
Water to the soil, not the schedule
Check a few centimetres into the soil rather than watering on a fixed day. Otter’s forecast-based advice tells you whether rain is likely to cover the need, but the soil check decides whether today is the day to act.
Check the official restriction for your area. A Temporary Use Ban can change what you are allowed to do with a hosepipe, whatever this guidance says. Check your postcode.