We're coming to the dry season.
Just because your hose throws a 20' jet, it doesn't follow that it's watering thoroughly.
As a test, how many seconds would you give a square yard raised bed, with 12 well grown Chard plants, with this outflow?
Does the West of Scotland have a dry season? ;)
Go on then. I'd probably give it a minute or two. Probably until the water begins to 'sit' on the surface.
to water thouroughly i'd say probably a good ten minutes, by throwing a jet of water alot will be lost to the air so will be watering all around the bed.
What is water sitting on the surface? I guess that Tim does not have this either.
Do you not? Perhaps it is my clay soil. It tends to compact when rained on or watered. Seems fine otherwise. I always get good crops from it.
Of course, I didn't mean 'jet' the bed. Just to show that that hose is taking 40 secs to give a Gallon. And of course, if you spray, you're losing a lot to waste.
E&OE, I would suggest at least 4 mins. Which is much longer than you think!!
Water 'sitting'? Yes - with some soils but, if peaty or very dry, this can be misleading.
I ffirmly believe in measuring the flow & then counting the seconds every time. Same with a Drip Hose which gives 1g/ft/hr?
PS Wrote this before the last 2.
Well im not lucky enough to be able to hose except in the garden, and then if my boys are helping it is sprayed everywhere, of course apart from where I want it. So guessing how long and how you did it probably wasnt my forte ;)
Needless to say I find good old water butt and cans much much easier, although the boys help most of the water goes where I want it to with only a little in thier wellies and mine too. They have fun though and the job gets done
And fun's important!