Melinda's Garden Moment Radio Tips
Melinda Myers
Nationally known gardening expert, TV/Radio host, author & columnist with over 30 years of horticulture experience and tons of gardening information to share! www.melindamyers.comMelinda's Garden Moment videos will help you create that beautiful landscape you’ve always wanted. Each week throughout the growing season, a new gardening video will be added right here, so be sure to stop back. You can also watch Melinda’s Garden Moments on your local network TV station affiliate.
Conserve water and take the guesswork out of watering your plants with clay pot irrigation.
Unglazed clay pots are buried in the garden with just the neck of the pot exposed, filled with water and the opening covered. Water moves through the clay pot into the surrounding soil as needed. This method, also called olla irrigation, provides water directly to the soil where plant roots grow. Plus, less water is lost to evaporation and run off.
You can purchase Olla pots or create your own from unglazed terra cotta pots. Just plug the drainage hole with a cork, mounting putty or other waterproof material. Test to make sure the seal is watertight before installing. Sink the pot into the ground leaving about an inch above the soil surface. Fill with water and cover the opening to prevent water from evaporating and to keep out dirt, bugs and mosquitoes.
A bit more information: This watering method has been used for over 4,000 years and thought to have originated in northern Africa. It has made a big comeback with home gardeners and small-scale farmers.