Watering by Soil Type

Watering by soil type: sandy soil needs frequent, smaller watering; clay needs slow, deep watering; loam sits in between.

Sandy, clay and loam

Sandy soil drains fast — water more often, in smaller amounts, and add compost to hold moisture. Clay holds water — water slowly and deeply, less often, and avoid watering on a fixed schedule when the soil is already moist. Loam is the middle case: about 1 inch per week, adjusted for rain. Use the watering calculator for volumes, and check moisture by hand before watering.