'High moisture' plants prefer moist soil—not wet soil. Wet soil or fully saturated soil is soil that has all pore spaces filled with water and devoid of air. For example, a sponge that is completely full of water and no air would be considered fully saturated. Roots need air—even those of high moisture plants.
Tomatoes really love water and do not like to dry up too much! It's hard to overwater a tomato plant, but even a water-loving plant can get overwatered. Always feel the soil before watering - it should feel a bit dry or moist but not wet.
Crops can differ in their tolerance to waterlogging. Data from differing sources suggest a possible ranking of waterlogging tolerance. The most tolerant to most susceptible are rice, soybeans, oats, wheat, corn, barley, canola, peas, dry beans and lentils. Growth stage and variety can affect this ranking.
Soggy soil will look dark and damp, and will hold its form when squeezed and compacted and will have a plastic consistency. If you squeeze darker soil in your hand, and it maintains that shape, your water is soggy. To check if your soil is soggy, dig a small patch of it roughly twenty centimetres deep.
If the ball remains mostly intact or breaks into only a few pieces, the soil is too wet. Observe your planter in the field. If soil is building up on the rubber closing wheels, the soil is too wet to plant. You should inspect the seed furrow periodically for signs of soil smearing and sidewall compaction.
Hostas. Hostas are easy to grow and long-lived. They like moist, fertile soils including heavy clay and are shade-loving perennials. They are known for their attractive foliage; the summer blooms are a bonus.
Ferns love water and do not like to dry out. Feel the top soil, it should be moist but not wet when watering it again.
Quick facts. Water your garden so that your plants always have enough moisture. On sandy, well-drained soil, you may need to water twice a week. For soils that hold moisture, such as heavier clay soils, or loamy soils rich in organic matter, watering once a week is fine.
Hydrangea Care Tips
Water at a rate of 1 inch per week throughout the growing season. Deeply water 3 times a week to encourage root growth. Bigleaf and smooth hydrangeas require more water, but all varieties benefit from consistent moisture.
Remember, Lavender thrives on fast-draining soil and does not prefer to have "wet feet," or standing water, which can cause roots to rot.
The vibrant colors and tropical appeal are the main selling point for hibiscus, but they also tolerate wet soil. Plant hibiscus in full sun, in consistently moist soil, and the blooms will be magnificent.
Most plants benefit from drying out completely between waterings; some moisture-loving plants like ferns can be watered again when the soil is mostly dry. Step 2: If the soil is dry, fill a watering can or vessel with room temperature water.
Mud also provides a nutrient-rich habitat to snails, clams and frogs. When your garden soil is muddy, however, it is time for patience. Muddy soil is easily compacted, making life difficult for young (and not so young) plant roots. All plants need water, but heavy rains and flooding are another story.
Soils with excessive moisture have poor aeration because pore spaces are filled with water. Roots tend to grow near the surface in such soils. With poorly anchored roots, a tree is susceptible to wind throw.
When a plant is first becoming overwatered, leaves turn yellow. If soil doesn't have a chance to dry out before you water again, leaves start to wilt. When overwatering is the problem, wilted leaves are soft and limp. (If too little water is the issue, wilted leaves are dry and crispy.)
Mulch, mulch, and mulch some more!
Cover your soil with a blanket of organic material such as straw, leaves, shredded paper or cardboard, or bark. This will moderate soil temperature, prevent runoff and evaporation, and hold moisture in the for longer periods between waterings.
Late-season plantings of a cover crop in wet ground might include cool-season species such as barley, cereal rye, winter peas, crimson clover, and brassica crops like oilseed radishes, rapeseed, and turnips.
In that case choose cover crops that germinate fast and grow fairly aggressively so that they can get a root down into that blanket of residue. Cereal crops like oats, barley and rye generally will achieve a cover crop stand if broadcast and the weather is favourable.
Most water intensive crops are rice, cotton, sugarcane, soybean and wheat whereas tobacco, corn, and sunflower require less water. How much water is needed for a specific crop production, depends on the crop characteristics, environment (water use data by crop type is not the same in every country) and crop management.
Cucumbers like consistent moisture, but they should not be grown where soil remains soggy. Try raised beds if drainage is an issue. Because cucumbers are so susceptible to pests and disease, rotate where you plant them from year to year.