Tips to reduce watering in the garden, landscape and yard and still keep plants alive:
- Mulch around plants with shredded bark mulch, aged compost mix or aged manure mix
- If you can't mulch large areas, spread a good layer of straw (not hay)
- Hoeing the ground around the plants brings moisture closer to the surface for the plants
- Plant perennials close together to shade the ground
- Use soaker hoses where needed instead of overhead watering
- When watering with a garden hose, water only the ground around the base of the plant and not the leaves on the plant
- Water late evening or early morning only
- Hold off any fertilize applications until the weather is cooler or it rains as plants will be less stressed
