The best way to know how water behaves in your soil is to dig a test hole one to two feet deep and fill with water. If the water in the hole drains away in an hour or two, you have excellent drainage. If it drains away overnight, then you have adequate drainage. If it stands any longer, you have very poor drainage.

Set a rain gauge in an open area of your garden to learn how much water your garden receives. After each rainfall, check the depth of the rain inside the gauge.

Watering in the mornings gives plants a chance to drink up before the hot sun or strong winds evaporate the moisture. It also allows any moisture on the leaves to evaporate before evening. Wet foliage during the night can lead to fungal diseases.

Water timers are a great tool, but you should not water your lawn or garden without first checking the moisture. Too much water can be just as damaging as too little water. Before watering, check your garden’s soil moisture with your finger, or a moisture meter.

If the soil clings to your finger and feels moist to the touch, don’t water. If the soil falls loosely off your finger and is dry to the touch, then it is safe to water.

The best way to water is a flow that the soil will absorb without too much runoff. Usually, you should water 2-3 times per week depending on the type of plant and conditions. By watering deeply, the first season with lawns, trees, shrubs, and perennials, you’ll help your plants grow deep root systems. Newly planted plants may need to be watered more frequently for the first few weeks. Check on them daily but only water if needed.

To encourage healthy root growth, you should provide enough water to soak the entire root ball. An open hose placed at the base of the tree or shrub with the water flowing slowly will provide the needed water to the root zone. A thorough watering should last 30-60 minutes, depending on the size of the root ball.

In hot weather, containers may need to be watered daily. Some containers may also need twice daily watering depending on the size of the pot. It is important to remember not to let the containers sit in a pool of water. Always make sure that their saucers are empty and that you have good drainage.

Mulching reduces surface runoff and slows evaporation, along with reducing weed problems. As a bonus, mulching may also prevent certain kinds of soil diseases from coming into contact with your plants’ leaves.