Watering Tips for Early Childhood Gardens: Fun Ways to Teach Tamariki About Plant Care
- Anita Croft
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Hands-On Watering Tips for Early Childhood Gardens and Curious Tamariki
As the weather warms up, it’s the perfect time to focus on watering tips for early childhood gardens. Your garden will need extra care to stay healthy through the hotter months, and watering provides a wonderful opportunity to involve tamariki in hands-on learning about nature, sustainability, and responsibility. It’s more than just keeping plants alive – it’s about teaching children observation skills and the importance of caring for living things.
Why Watering Matters
Plants need the right amount of water to thrive. Not enough water causes stress to the plant which can result in it bolting to seed or becoming susceptible to pests and disease.
Too much water can kill plants as their roots will rot.
Always water the garden according to soil and weather conditions and the specific needs of each plant.
Know Your Plants
Different vegetables have different water requirements:
Leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, broccoli) need lots of water.
Flowering and fruiting vegetables (tomatoes, capsicums, cucumbers, zucchini) need extra water during these stages.
Root crops (carrots, beetroot, radish) prefer soil that is moist but not soggy.
Tip: Group plants with similar water needs together to conserve water and make watering easier.
Best Time to Water
Water early in the morning or later in the day (before 10am or after 4:00pm). This reduces evaporation and ensures the water soaks into the soil and reaches the roots where the plant needs it.
How to Water
Deep watering (giving the garden enough water that it penetrates below the surface of the soil) every 2-3 days is better than light sprinkling daily. Deep watering encourages roots to go deeper meaning the plants will be stronger and will be able to withstand most weather conditions.
However, plants grown in pots will need to be watered daily and sometimes twice per day depending on the size of the pot and the heat of the day. It could be an idea to consider using water crystals to retain moisture in the soil.
Water the soil, not the leaves. Show tamariki how to make a circle around the plant and aim for the root zone. I encourage them to water where the plant comes out of the soil.
Check the Soil
At watering time, check if you need to water by pushing a trowel into the soil and angle it back to see how damp it is, or better yet pushing your finger into the soil. You’re aiming for barely moist soil at the level of the roots – so about 2 - 2.5cms down or to about the 2nd knuckle of your index finger. If it feels moist at that depth then you don’t need to water. If it’s dry then water.
Involve tamariki by teaching them:
Colour: Damp soil is darker.
Texture: Dry soil feels crumbly; damp soil sticks together.
Watering Options
There are a range of options for watering, however in an early childhood centre hand watering is best because the children can get involved and learn when and how to water.
One way to conserve water is to use the water from the water trough (as long as it doesn’t have additives that may be harmful to your plants) when you empty it for watering the plants.
Bottle Top Watering Nozzles
Get tamariki to fill old soft drink bottles from the water trough and screw a watering nozzle on the top. A perfect way to reuse an item before it gets discarded and water the garden at the same time.
Watering Spikes
You may also like to try using watering spikes that screw onto the top of an empty soft drink bottle. The spikes are pushed into the ground beside the plant directing water to the roots. I cut the bottom off the bottles so children can pour their water into the bottle, and it will slowly empty into the garden.
Make It a Learning Moment
Invite tamariki to help with watering and checking soil moisture. Explain why plants need water and how different vegetables have different needs. These simple activities foster responsibility, observation skills, and a love for nature.
Closing Thoughts
Gardening is more than growing food—it’s growing knowledge, patience, and care. By teaching tamariki how to water wisely, you’re helping them understand the balance of nature and the importance of sustainability. Every drop counts, and every moment in the garden is a chance to nurture curiosity and joy. So grab those watering cans and make it a shared adventure!
Also check out the blog ‘To mulch or not to mulch’ to learn about how it helps to conserve water and protect the soil over the hot summer months.
