For hanging baskets, planters and pots, put ice cubes on top of the soil to give your plants…

Learn how to shut off your automatic watering system in case of malfunctions or rain.

Look for WaterSense® labeled irrigation controllers.

Use a rain barrel to harvest rainwater from gutters for watering gardens and landscapes.

If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better…

Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.

Remember to periodically check your sprinkler system valves for leaks, and to keep sprinkler heads in good shape.

Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.

Use a trowel, shovel, or soil probe to examine soil moisture depth. If the top two to three…

Use sprinklers that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller drops and mist often evaporate…

Don’t water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates.

Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.

Read the Landscape Watering by the Numbers guidebook to help you determine how long and how much to water.

Install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller so your system won’t run when it’s raining.

Pruning properly can help your plants use water more efficiently.

Use drip irrigation for shrubs and trees to apply water directly to the roots, where it’s needed.