Watering Your Garden, the Lazy Way

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0:00 Intro
0:20 Soil Types 101
1:36 Mistake 1: Too much of a good thing
4:18 a word from our sponsor
6:10 Building up your soil
7:04 Never leave your soil uncovered
8:08 Lazy garden design and runoff
11:56 Listen to your plants
13:09 Mistake 2: Wrong time of day
14:34 Why Lazy Pathways work
15:56 Mistake 3: Wrong kind of water
18:04 Don't monocrop
21:11 Emulate the seasons
28:51 Why deep roots are important
32:34 Checking on Ella

MORE ABOUT ME

I'm Anne of All Trades. In NASHVILLE, I have a woodworking, blacksmithing and fabrication shop, a selection of furry friends, and an organic farm. Whether you've got the knowledge, tools, time or space to do the things you've always wanted to do, everything is "figureoutable."

I became "Anne of All Trades" out of necessity. With no background in farming or making things, I wanted to learn to raise my own food, fix things when they break and build the things I need.

12 years ago I got my first pet, planted my first seed and picked up my first tool.

My goal is to learn and share traditional techniques and skills while showing my peers how to get from where they are to where they want to go, how to do the things they are passionate about, and what can be done TODAY to engage their own community and grow deep roots.

Whether it's carving spoons, making my own hand tools, restoring my antique truck or growing heirloom tomatoes, the farm and workshop definitely keep me busy and support - whether financially through Patreon, through shopping my affiliate links, through buying merchandise, plans or project videos, or even just liking, commenting, and sharing my content with others helps me GREATLY to keep producing quality content to share.

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Help Support this project and others!

Other places you can find me:

[kylastringer]

Was feeling down, saw your thumbnail and immediately felt happy. Thanks for being you, out there authentically, sharing yourself and your journey with us ❤.

[JasonMorford]

I followed your method this year, I watered my garden only the two days I planted seeds in my garden . I have not watered my garden once since mother's day and my garden is going super well.

[andrewsusen]

I topped my garden with mulch from my local mulch pile this year. With all those wood chips I figured I'd try less watering this year, and O my goodness what a difference. I've water my garden maybe 3-5 times this year, all the rest has been rain fall. My tomatoes taste better it's been my best pepper year so far, and I was able to support a very dense planting of lettuce, beans/peas, and onion. Definitely a smart method for everyone to use.

[denisestearns]

Anne, as hard as it is for any of us to publically admit we're wrong, you did this with grace and enough levity to make it interesting for your viewers. It is just a shame that some viewers take everything so seriously.
That said, I truly appreciate someone adding what they know about a topic being discussed, and there are graceful ways to add their knowledge gracefully. As we move forward, continually enjoying your new videos, may we all comment with grace and encouragement.
Thank you for your videos (which require so much effort and time for you and Adam). I always learn something new that I can apply to my own life!

[terrythedad]

First off - love your content. I am completely in agreement with copying what nature does. It’s the best teacher. Live in the prairies of Canada. I think it’s considered semi-arid where we are. Even so, NOBODY believes in mulching here. They seem to think working harder is a virtue! (Good old Puritan values I guess.). My mom is a lazy gardener also and taught me to mulch but I never used enough so kinda never reaped the benefits. This got me excited about gardening again (for next year). And now I know my mistake - there’s never too much mulch! I agree about watering too much, makes the plants weak. They need to mimic what nature gives - periods of rain and drought. Makes them much more resilient. Same for my houseplants - if they can’t handle some drought (aka neglect), they don’t belong. LOL

[Coxeysbodgering]

Here in the UK we've had a very wet growing season and terrible slug and snail damage to plants, when moist (such a nice lovely word) loving pests are around it's advisable to water early morning, before sun can damage plants and when said pests like to hide, especially true in containers and raised (enclosed) beds

[pamelag.]

Hi, Anne! When I’m disappointed with my garden, it’s nice to listen to your rant and become aware of what I m driving for. I love your humor keep smiling, it’s contagious and much needed in times like these. Love to all!❤❤🤗😆🤣

[foreverofthestars]

I just love that you DON'T dye your hair. I love your content as well, of course. The magic is in the soil!

[swampfoxtactics]

Thanks for the excellent plant/soil science lesson Anne. My garden has completely transformed because of your lessons. I am teaching other homestead mothers all you have taught me as well. You are positively affecting many people and gardens through your channel. Xo

[heidibear]

I just love your energy and all your information. One of the best channels ❤ love from south africa 😊

[chezelleconroy]

I love your garden videos, more than your animal ones- it’s just my preference, but all your videos are great. Thank you again for showing us your amazing methods for a beautiful and productive garden!

[tinad]

Great video. I love the waiting room for the calf delivery 😊and “As mulch as I believe” 😂 was so funny. Thank you. Your garden looks great. I watched that video you mentioned at the end.

[brendabadih]

Always been a Ruth Stout gardener. Lazier and busier every year. Just turned 70. Feel like we have parallel, siamese minds. The way you thinned those volunteer lettuces, the no till soil building from the top, the pepper pruning. Honestly, l'm lazier than you but thoroughly devoted to my critters. All and any critter. I had some melons, they climbed over everything, but produced many fruit inside a tall trellis. Had to open up the 4" grid to remove a huge oblong fruit. 12" x 6". 5lbs. Don't know what kind it is. Seed rescued at community garden last year. Big producer. Between a cantaloupe and honeydew. Great smoothies. The Roselle has been exceptional. Also 1st yr growing Giant Golden Amaranth, Cosmos, Pyrethrum daisy. I'm in 9b, Houston TX. The swamp. Complain about the climate but did pick 10 lemons yesterday. l had lemons in sw Missouri in pots. I miss growing strawberry and asparagus. Yes it has to be in the blood, a passion. I like the word chores. I like my chores. Having a good reliable partner is essential. Searching for a partner for growing food, having some animals. But not in this heat. Must have humility, humor and health. Lord find me an Anne partner, even if it's a man. Hopefully a man w a wife. When you've been out for hours it'd be nice to come in and there's a happy woman listening to the radio, maybe making some dinner, or crocheting a rag rug. You know my heart. Oh, where's the corn? Can't grow corn down here, too many rats. Life in the big city, grrr. 🐦

[suep]

Great tips !❤ I also have been told from an experienced farmer that rainwater contains more oxygen than treated water which is probably why I notice plants do so much better after rain versus even by our total house reverse osmosis filtered water 💧. I currently have 25 raised beds and water early morning around 5am every day and have been trying to cut costs... this is just the video I needed! I have been reading the charles dowding no dig book bc of your vids & I am really excited to utilize these tips when we expand our growing space 😊 love your vids ! Keep it up! 🌼🫶

[amarynth]

this channel is brilliant .so much WISE and simple information .mimic nature is best choice .thank you

[fiveminutefridays]

I feel special for having already watched (at publication) your "no one really watched this one" video mentioned at the end. Your attitude always brightens my day, and I really hope I can manage myADHD well enough to maybe one day take all your lovely gardening advice XD

[movingtori]

Thanks for the great content! I love your energy and enthusiasm. I also like your holistic approach to gardening. Many kudos!

[mybootscamewithoutstraps]

If there's one thing I know, it's that I water too often. One of my joys of every day is going out to my food forest and giving some water to the plants. Even though I know I may do it too often, I also know that none of them are showing signs of over watering. This year I've been able to grow more food than ever, and I plan to reformat my garden layout to be better set up for next year with more food to harvest and less watering to do.

I think next year will be the year I barely water at all by hand, and it'll be a fun time discovering what happens when I play less of a role in watering. Will I get more or less food? Will things grow better or worse?

[Angie-cilp]

You’re absolutely the GOAT!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽Thanks for sharing 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[ShootingtheSoil]

Another great water capturing technique in trenches in your paths perpendicular to grade. Then fill the trench with wood chips! Will carry that water running down to pond across the garden from where you ran down. Just added it to my garden this year and did a video on water holding. It's important not just for our gardens but also our water systems to minimize flooding and eutrophication!