A vegetable garden will require a good soaking twice a week in the summer providing it is well mulched, once a week in winter.

Fruit trees.

These require a lot of water to produce a good crop (at least one good soak a fortnight in the summer).

New young trees and shrubs will require a thorough soaking once a week until they are established (once they produce new growth.)

Mulching around your trees and shrubs helps to keep the moisture in, (not up against the trunk as it could cause collar rot, etc.) and therefore they will need less watering.

It is better to water your your trees and shrubs by hand than a sprinkler. (a garden sprinkler will use a 1000 litres an hour.

Water late in the day. Plants take up water at night; by watering in the middle of the day most of the water will be lost to evaporation.

By watering too often and not soaking well, plants, shrubs or trees will only produce surface roots, that is they will not forage for water themselves through their tap root. If they miss out on regular watering or there’s a drought they will be the first to suffer. Over watering will also kill your trees and shrubs, through the lack of good drainage. A garden that can rely mostly on the natural rainfall is much healthier and less work for yourself; an independent garden.

When buying trees and shrubs from the nursery, do not buy the big tall plants - the ones with fruit on, these plants are probably pot bound - buy the smaller plants which are younger and healthier.

Trees that are produced from cuttings, don't grow tap roots, (the root that forages and is also the trees anchor) these trees will be the first trees to blow over in a storm.

Trees produce from seeds do have tap roots.

Only grow trees and shrubs suited to your area and climate.

Fruit trees : grow tropical fruits, Banana, Paw paw, Mango, etc.