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Watering the yard can quietly add a lot to your water bill, especially in summer. The good news? A few simple changes help your garden and lawn use less water and actually grow stronger, deeper roots in the process.
Here are easy water-saving tips for your garden and lawn.
Water smarter, not more
- Water early in the morning. Less water evaporates, and plants have all day to dry off (which helps prevent disease).
- Water deeply and less often. A good soak once or twice a week encourages deep roots that handle dry spells better than daily sprinkles.
- Check before you water. Stick a finger 1 to 2 inches into the soil. If it’s still moist, wait.
- Follow local watering rules. Many areas set watering days and times. Check your city or water district’s website.
- Skip watering after rain. A simple rain gauge (or a rain sensor on your sprinklers) tells you when nature has done the job.
Use the right tools
- Soaker hoses and drip irrigation deliver water right to the roots instead of spraying it into the air.
- A hose nozzle with a shut-off stops water from running while you move around.
- A timer keeps sprinklers from running too long (or when you forget to turn them off!).
- Check sprinkler heads so they water plants, not the driveway or sidewalk.
Help the soil hold water
- Mulch, mulch, mulch. A 2 to 3 inch layer of wood chips, pine straw or shredded leaves keeps soil cool and moist. Keep it a few inches away from stems and trunks.
- Add compost. Rich soil holds water like a sponge. Here’s how to start composting at home.
- Pull weeds. They steal water from your plants.
Choose water-wise plants
- Go native. Plants native to your region are used to your rainfall and usually need less watering once established.
- Try drought-tolerant favorites like lavender, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, sedum, rosemary and ornamental grasses. See more easy perennials.
- Group plants by thirst. Put water-loving plants together and drought-tolerant ones together so you don’t overwater either.
Lawn tips
- Mow a little higher. Taller grass shades its roots and loses less water.
- Leave the clippings. They return moisture and nutrients to the soil.
- Shrink the lawn. Swap a section of grass for a flower bed, mulch or a native plant garden.
Catch free water
A rain barrel under a downspout collects rainwater for your garden beds and pots. Plants love it, and it’s free! Keep a lid on it to keep out mosquitoes and little hands, and check local rules first, since some areas have guidelines for rain barrels.
Make it a family project
Kids can be the “rain gauge checkers,” water pots with a watering can, or help spread mulch. It’s a great way to talk about why saving water matters.
Keep watering simple. The Garden Planner includes a weekly watering and feeding tracker, a rain log and a garden budget, so you can save water and money. It’s undated, so you can use it every year. Get the Garden Planner ($7) →
Water-wise gardening FAQ
How much water does a garden need?
A common rule of thumb is about 1 inch of water per week, including rain, for most vegetables and flowers. Hot, sandy or windy spots may need more. Containers usually need water more often.
Is it better to water in the morning or at night?
Morning is best. Watering at night can leave leaves wet for hours, which may lead to disease.
Want more ways to save around the house? Try these eco-friendly home swaps, or grab my free printables in the Free Printables Library.
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