Automatic watering methods for planters

Hi all,

I have Cherry Laurels in planters and recently noticed dropped and yellowing leaves. This is a problem because the plants form a screen for my garden and I need them as leafy as possible.

Having consulted AI it turns out that I was probably under-watering them. I was giving them water but not so much so that it saturated all the way through and came out of the drainage holes at the bottom so that the lower roots were getting water too.

I have a hose and don't mind watering them properly now and then. But is there a system whereby it could be done automatically?

I don't have a tap in my front garden (where the plants are) but i could install one if absolutely necessary. Or perhaps there are other methods?

The nature of the large leafs mean that rain water doesn't sufficiently get to the soil in the planters.

Thank you.

 

Yellowing/dropping foliage is a part of any evergreen's growth habit, but cherry laurel is always going to be difficult in containers unless they're very, very sizeable. I've only ever had them contained when I've dug them up from a site and I'm waiting for the new site to become ready.

I'm not sure they're ever going to be terribly happy long term in those containers, unless they had access to the ground below. They'd need really deep watering every few days in long dry spells, not light watering every day. It's virtually impossible to overwater them, but if they dry out, they'd be hard to re soak. Persistent, heavy rainfall will get through the foliage to the soil, but if you aren't getting that, they'd need that thorough watering by hand.
Would it be possible to install a water butt in your front garden that would give a reasonable supply? If not, you may have to get one of those watering systems which use a perforated hosepipe. Not something I've ever needed, but I'm sure others would be able to help with that.

You'd need to beef up the soil each year or so if they're staying in the containers. I'm assuming they are in soil and not just compost?

 

There are several automated dripper systems, most need a mains water supply. There are some that work off waterbuts, in the current heat conditions we've had you would get through a full standard WB (around 220 litres) every few days.