Sometimes saving water around the garden is as simple as turning off the hose.
“We get more plants that are killed by overwatering than anything else,” said Patty Cordero with Armstrong Garden Center.
She said people are often watering more than necessary. That’s why the popular San Diego nursery is giving homeowners tips to save water around the yard.
The first tip is to watch when you water. Cordero said it is best to water early in the morning and not water between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. She said it is more efficient to water during the early morning hours.
And when you water, it’s best to water deeper, not more often. In other words, you can increase your watering time, but not water as many days of the week. A moisture meter can tell you if the water is still wet around a plant.
For some plants, you may have to dig down and see if the root ball is still wet. If you are seeing burnt edges at the end of the plant, that may be from not watering deep enough because of a salt build up.
Another tip is to put mulch around your trees, plants and garden. A good bark cover or mulch, “keep the moisture in and they help keep the weeds down,” said Cordero.
New California water restrictions ban watering down sidewalks and driveways. There is also no more washing a car or boat without a shut-off nozzle on the hose. Cordero said that's also a must when watering around the house.
“Don’t have water just going willy-nilly all over the place,” said Cordero. “Get a handle on that, get a nozzle or get a watering want.”
