Most lawn and garden trouble comes from watering the wrong way, not too little. A few simple rules give you a greener yard on less water.
Water deeply, not often
Light daily sprinkles keep roots shallow and thirsty. Water two or three times a week instead, long enough to soak 6–8 inches down. Deep roots ride out heat and drought far better.
Water early in the morning
Before about 9 a.m. is best — little evaporates and the leaves dry before dark, so you dodge fungus and disease. Skip midday (you lose water to the sun) and late evening (wet leaves overnight invite rot).
Aim for one inch a week
Lawns and most gardens want roughly an inch of water per week, rain included. Set an empty tuna can on the grass and time how long your sprinkler takes to fill it — that’s your run time. A cheap rain gauge takes out the guesswork.
Put the water where the roots are
Sprinklers lose a lot to wind and evaporation. In beds and around shrubs, a soaker hose or drip line puts water straight into the soil — and a simple faucet timer runs it for you while you’re away.
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