Watering

        Water is one of the most important elements of plant growth. How much and how often depends on the particular plant, its location, the soil type and the method of delivery. Too much water can be just as devastating as too little.

Always water deeply - frequent application of small amounts of water will not get the plant the water that it needs; most of the water in the soil surface simply evaporates before the plant can get it. It is also best to let the soil dry out between waterings. Excessive watering will prevent oxygen from reaching the roots and encourage disease.

        If water is applied by hose, it should be just slightly faster than the soil can absorb it. Care should be taken not to allow the water to runoff, form trenches or disturb the roots of shallowly rooted plants. After watering, dig down a few inches to see if the soil is wet all the way to the roots. If not, water more. In sandy soil, 1 inch of rainfall will penetrate 1 foot, in clay soils it will penetrate 4 to 5 inches. One inch of rainfall will penetrate approximately 6 to 8 inches in loamy soil. Mulch helps the soil retain water by keeping it from evaporating before the plant can absorb it. Adding soil additives such as manure and humus also help the soil retain more water.

        Since each different type of plant has different water needs, it is best to group the plants together by their water usage. High water users should be with other high water users and xeriscape plants should be with other low water users. It is often helpful to use one water sensitive plant as a barometer of dryness. Once leaf wilt is seen on that plant, it is time to water.

        Water in the early morning. Watering in the afternoon may cause leaf burn and watering at night may bring insects and diseases.

        Water usage varies according to the time of year and climate zone. Plants in coastal zones may require less water than plants in desert zones. Plants will also require less water in cooler winter months than in hot spring months. Get to know your garden and your climate and the question of whether or not to water will be easily answered.

Irrigation

        Manual sprinklers are the most common way to water your garden. There are multitudes of sizes and spray patterns to chose from. There are drawbacks to this method of irrigation, however. Manual sprinklers must be moved manually around your garden and the rate of application may be erratic.
        Soaker Hoses are one of the simplest and least expensive methods of manual watering. These hoses, with their tiny holes that slowly release water, are good for clay soils that need slow application. However, they, too, must be moved manually.
        Drip irrigation is an timed method of watering wherein small amounts of water are applied for long periods of time. This is by far the most waterwise watering method. It is easy to install but requires frequent maintenance to prevent clogging.

Automatic Irrigation
  Automatic irrigation has many benefits. It can go on when water cost is lowest. You can install rain sensors to turn the sprinklers off if it rains. Different zones can be set for different water rates so all plants can be accomodated. Automatic irrigation systems can be installed by the owner or by a landscape contractor.