Tips to reduce watering in the garden, landscape and yard and still keep plants alive:

• Mulch around plants with shredded bark mulch, aged compost mix or aged manure mix
• If you can't mulch large areas, spread a good layer of straw (not hay)
• Hoeing the ground around the plants brings moisture closer to the surface for the plants
• Plant perennials close together to shade the ground
• Use soaker hoses where needed instead of overhead watering
• When watering with a garden hose, water only the ground around the base of the plant and not the leaves on the plant
• Water late evening or early morning only
• Hold off any fertilize applications until the weather is cooler or it rains as plants will be less stressed

By Cheryl D. Jones

Greenwood Nursery