Some plants like sunflowers and dahlias are very 'chatty'. They will tell you right off when they are dry - wilting. If you are worried about thirsty plants like these, a deep saucer will help.
For smaller pots, it can be good to know the weight of the pot over the season. Know it when it's sodden and when it's dry - then you will never have to guess what it wants. This goes for house plants like orchids too.
You can get a multi test meter very cheaply. Push the probe(s) well in. Pots often look dry on top but are moist or even wet underneath. I know some say just push your finger in but in an established pot this often isn't possible. Generally water every other day. If you have mulched your beds well in spring then once or twice a week should be enough but again test before you waste time and water.
I got a tester but found it quite unreliable so stopped using it. My poor water butt is nearly empty, was saving that water for my two Pieris. x
I'm going away tomorrow for two weeks and my brother is cat sitting, not only is he charged with that but also feeding the wildlife and now he has been put in charge of watering ......I'm paying him well .....
I live in SW France where it is often over 30° in summer. I water large pots every other day, a good soak each time. I put saucers under them in summer. The birds like to drink from the saucers.
I water the beds either once or twice a week, a good soak each time, depending what sort of plants are in them. There are beds with shrubs and lavender that I don't water much at all. When I go to the UK for 2 or 3 weeks they don't get watered, but I had someone to do the pots. Now I hardly have any pots as I've moved house and stay longer in the UK. I have a man who mows and waters.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Posts
I got a tester but found it quite unreliable so stopped using it. My poor water butt is nearly empty, was saving that water for my two Pieris. x
I water the beds either once or twice a week, a good soak each time, depending what sort of plants are in them. There are beds with shrubs and lavender that I don't water much at all. When I go to the UK for 2 or 3 weeks they don't get watered, but I had someone to do the pots. Now I hardly have any pots as I've moved house and stay longer in the UK. I have a man who mows and waters.