The Best Method For Watering Your Rosemary Plants

Rosemary plants are often thought of as resilient and easy to care for, but it can be difficult to make sure your plant is getting the right amount of water. While rosemary can sometimes hold up well during droughts, it needs to already be established. Regardless of whether you've recently planted rosemary in your garden, its home is in a pot on your porch, or it sits on your windowsill, you may need to water it more often than you think.

The roots of a rosemary plant like to spread out when grown in a garden, which can help it get access to water deep in the ground. Before the roots begin growing, a rosemary plant should be watered whenever the soil starts to get dry. This is especially true if your garden gets a lot of bright sunlight. After a few weeks, your rosemary plant should become established and only receive rainwater, unless you're experiencing a long drought in your region. 

For rosemary plants that are potted but remain outside, it's best to water them once every week or two during their growing season, which runs from the start of spring through fall. To know if it's time to water your rosemary, touch the top of the soil to check for moisture — if it's completely dry, give your plant a drink. If you're unsure, check the soil through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot to see if it's dry. Since rosemary can have issues with root rot, overwatering it can be a death sentence.

Indoor rosemary plants require similar care as potted plants on your patio. Depending on the temperature in your home and how much sunlight your plant receives, it may need to be watered as much as once or twice every week or as little as once every one or two weeks.

Since rosemary prefers dryer soil, it's best to soak it from above and give the soil time to become dry again. When a rosemary plant has been overwatered, the soil may feel very damp and the tips of the leaves might start to brown. It's also important to consider the type of soil in your garden or planter. Good drainage is essential for rosemary plants, and sandy soils tend to be the best because they drain well. Soils that contain higher amounts of clay typically hold onto water, which can be detrimental to your rosemary plant. If your garden has soil with clay, try adding peat moss or compost to help improve the drainage.

If you don't want to plant your rosemary directly into the ground, it's important to choose the right kind of planter. Clay and terracotta pots are generally the best for this plant since they help to get rid of excess moisture.