In my dirt garden I used soaker hoses laid on top of the garden rows in little furrows after I planted. I get a lot of rain and sun where I'm at but it is very unpredictable and so I need the insurance. I use tap water with a water timer but it really only carries the plants thru until the next rain. Because I get good sun and rain normally weeds grow like...weeds. and can be areal pain once establised. I have a lot of trees and after plants are planted I mulch over heavily so as to keep emergent weeds smothered out and mulch too thick for wind blown seeds to start. Works in early spring, late spring/early summer, and fall gardens. Weeds, heat, and insects make it too much work for me in the hot summer. Usually only grow garlic ocra and peppers in hot summer, and they are kinda on their own! The water timer is nice to turn on before bed and water turns itself off. Plants draw water up all night and can take the sun better the next day. With spring tomatoes need to watch what you use as mulch. Preferably pine straw because the tomatoes like the acid and the straw doesn't creat fungus like a lot of broad leaf litter. My soil is poor so I always till the mulch in and remulch after each replanting. I used to add rabbit poop straight into the garden as it was never hot enough to burn any plants but after some good advice from people on the byap forum I'll compost first, if I don't use as substrate for mushrooms, but thats another topic
Backyard Farming Forum
