Are you watering your plants enough? Use this DIY trick to check

One method to develop a greener thumb: Knowing when to water your plants.

The general rule for watering plants, or your lawn and garden, is to water them once a week. However, your flowers and other plants will flourish if you dig a bit deeper into that rule.

"In reality, the best piece of advice is probably check for watering every seven to 10 days, and water if needed," said Aaron Steil, a consumer horticulture extension specialist at Iowa State University. "That way, we don't accidentally overwater, and at the same time, we don't completely forget about it and underwater, which, of course, happens, too."

And if you want to find out for yourself if a plant needs water or not, Steil pointed to a helpful DIY trick.

Assuming you already have your spring plantingdone, now comes the time to care for your flowers, plants and lawn. Here's what to know.

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How to tell if it's time to water your plants: Expert offers simple trick

There's no hard and fast rule on when to water plants because differences in weather and soil type can come into play. The best way to know whether your plants need watering is to get your hands dirty.

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You can use your hands, a trowel or a shovel to dig into the dirt around your plants or trees.

"Usually, if you can feel any moisture one or two inches down, things are fine," Steil told USA TODAY. "If it feels really dry, then that's the time to start watering."

When, where and for how long should you water?

More tips from Steil and the Iowa State University Extension:

• Morning dew: Watering early in the day is best so plants or foliage, if watered directly can dry, while also giving the plant plenty of water during the heat of the day. Occasionally, you have to break that rule because, Steil said, "let's be real, we all have jobs and commitments and sometimes we just don't get to it until the evening." Watering later in the day, he said, "is better than not at all."

• Smart watering: Don't water your plant or tree directly; water the root zone, the area around the plant where rainwater drips off the plant. That's where roots spread to get water and nutrients. (With newly planted trees and shrubs, make sure to water the root ball and the root zone.) Watering the foliage can also lead to disease. Ideally, use a watering wand with a breaker; you can gently shower your plants and stop the water flow as you move between plants or containers.

• Take your time: Water your garden or plants slowly, allowing moisture to sink 5-6 inches into the soil. If you are watering really dry garden plants, apply water to the root zone of each plant and come back 15 to 30 minutes later and water again. 

Gardening tips for watering vegetables and plants in containers, lawns, more

In general, young and newly-planted plants need more attention and watering than established ones. For plants, trees and shrubs you want to remain part of your landscape going forward, Steil said, adding that "those first couple of years are really important when it comes to watering."

Here's some of his more specific watering tips:

• Perennials. Your established perennial gardens only need watering during dry periods. (Remember to check the soil.) New plants need more frequent watering (you can mark them with a golf tee or label, to remind you).

• Trees. Established trees rarely need watering except during extended dry periods. But you should water trees and shrubs regularly after planting new ones – every few days at first, then every 7 to 10 days.

• Plants in containers. If outside, these require more frequent watering because the soil can dry out. Check your containers daily and water when the soil is dry. Some may need daily watering by mid-summer. Hanging baskets also need water daily or more often if they are in the sun.

• Vegetable gardens. About 1 inch of water, including rainfall, is usually sufficient for vegetable gardens. If your vegetables are in raised beds, you will want to watch them more closely as beds dry out more quickly than soil does.

• Lawns. Most lawns in Iowa require approximately 1 to 1½ inches of water weekly, Steil says. For local and regional guidance, check with your state extension services. Place two or three rain gauges in the sprinkler path to track how much water your lawn is getting. If you use a sprinkler, make sure the water pattern remains close to the ground so moisture isn't lost. Steil breaks down several sprinkler and irrigation options on the Iowa State Extension website.

What are some growing gardening trends?

As homeowners assess their lawns and gardens, they've begun to consider more natural alternatives requiring less care. So if you are considering a makeover, here's some options to consider.

Requests for low-water and drought-tolerant outdoor spaces are up 30%, according to the 2025 Trend Report from online landscape design company, Yardzen. Survey data included nearly 50,000 Yardzen clients and more than 1 million additional customer leads, prospective and actual.

Interest has risen in wild, imperfect lawn alternatives, including tapestry lawns, made up of low-growing and colorful plants that require little or no mowing (up 16%), and no-mow meadows of native grasses (up 12%).

A tapestry lawn "can cope with conditions that grass won't," noted Stephanie Tara Derby, a planting designer in London, posted on Instagram.

Many native plants, grasses and perennials don't need as much TLC.

"Traditional turf lawns are water- and maintenance-intensive," Kevin Lenhart, design director at Yardzen, said in a statement. "This year, we’re seeing more clients opt for alternatives like no-mow native grasses or tapestry lawns made from clover, thyme, or sedum. These are softer on the environment, better for pollinators, and easier to care for."