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The average American uses around 200 gallons of water each day. About half of that water may be used for landscaping and gardening, depending on climate and time of year. This is an immense amount of clean water - and your plants need only a small portion.

Because most plants can tolerate at least short dry periods, watering should be timed to meet the biological needs of the plants. Plants can absorb only so much water and over-watering wastes water and can injure certain plants. Watering slowly and deeply (1''-1½ '' once per week) helps develop deep roots; in the long run your plants will need less frequent watering. The plants that seem to benefit most from shallow watering are the ones you don’t want – weeds!

Drip irrigation systems and soaker hoses deliver their water to the intended plants efficiently. By choosing and operating a watering system correctly you can reduce water bills, fungal diseases and maintenance requirements. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, install a rain shut-off device or sensor that will override the system when adequate rain has fallen.

For best results, water in the early morning (4 a.m.-7 a.m.) when temperature and wind speeds are at their lowest and evaporation is reduced. Also, grasses will be less susceptible to fungus if you apply water at the time dew normally forms. For grass watering, apply 1'' to 1½'' of water when the grass shows signs of distress (bluish-gray color, folded leaf blades). Then, do not water any more until the symptoms reappear.

Gradually reduce watering to see if plants can tolerate less water. There is usually very little need for watering from fall through spring, and you should always turn off automatic systems if rainfall is consistent.

Remember, like a summer storm, runoff from a sprinkler can wash soil, lawn chemicals, pet waste and other pollutants into storm drain that empty directly into lakes and streams.