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24 November 2009
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how to be a gardener - The complete online guide

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Gardening
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Know your plot

Assessing your plot

  Light

  Temperature

  Wind

  Moisture

Analysing your soil

Drawing a survey

Test your knowledge

Go further

Plant lists

Interactives

Glossary

Credits

Programme information

Help with plugins

Gardening newsletter

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Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

Module 4

Module 5

Module 6

Module 7

Module 8

1 - Assessing your plot

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Plants need water Plants need water
Just like you, plants need water. There must be a constant supply because plants are like giant wicks. Water is sucked from the soil by roots, drawn up the stem and lost through the leaves.
Your ‘soil moisture content’
The amount of water in the soil is influenced by:

• Local annual rainfall
  
• Time of year
  
• Soil type
  
• Aspect
  
• The water table - the point in the soil at which water drains away
  
• Shady or north facing corners often have damp soil
  
• Much of the rainfall tends to come from the south west. Easterly aspects, protected by the house, tend to be dry.
  
• South-facing beds, or those in the ‘rain shadow’ of a wall, tend to be dry.

Watch the clip
Watch the video clip to find out why plants need water .

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1. Know your plot

Introduction
Assessing your plot
  Light
  Temperature
  Wind
  Moisture
Analysing your soil
Drawing a survey
Test your knowledge
Go further

Highlights

Plant lists

Plant lists

Plants for dry or damp conditions:

• Plants for dry gardens
• Plants for bog gardens

Video

Video

Why do plants need water? Watch the clip here.

• Plants need water

Interactive

Interactive
Test your knowledge of planting in different lighting conditions . Or find out how to test your soil .
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