Eight Steps to a Water-Wise Garden

With the Snip-n-Drip Pot and Planter Soaker System you can create a customized irrigation system that reduces watering chores and keeps plants hydrated and healthy.

No special tools needed for Snip-n-Drip systems. Cut soaker hose to fit beds with scissors, cut garden hose to cross non-water areas, snap fittings in place, and you're ready. Weeping soaker hoses deliver water to plants with minimal evaporation and runoff. Learn more about Snip-n-Drip watering systems.

What are the two biggest water users in your home? Toilets and landscape watering. In summer, half of all household water can go to lawn and garden. But you can dramatically cut consumption, lower bills, and still have a beautiful, productive garden. Follow these eight steps:

1. Add organic matter to your soil. Soil isn't all equal—large particles (sand) drain fast; small (clay) drain slow. Fix both by adding organic matter: compost, chopped leaves, composted manure improve texture and water-holding capacity. Add at least 1 inch of compost yearly. Read Building Healthy Soil.
2. Deliver water to the root zone. Soaker hoses put up to 90% of water at plant roots; sprinklers only 40–50% efficient. Drip irrigation and soaker hoses minimize evaporation and keep inter-plant areas dry, limiting weeds. Aqua Cones get water to individual roots economically. Flat Soaker Hose delivers slowly and evenly in beds.
3. Use mulch to retain water. 6–8″ organic mulch cuts water needs in half by blocking weeds and reducing evaporation. Organic mulches hold some water and increase humidity around plants. Options: chopped/shredded leaves, straw, compost, salt hay, shredded newspaper, grass clippings, rotted hay. Inorganic: Pro Weed Mat, Fiber Tree Rings, recycled rubber Tree Rings. Read Choosing the Right Mulch for Vegetable Gardens.
4. Use free water. Rainwater is best—clear, unchlorinated, free. Collect from downspouts with rain barrels or a cistern. A 1,000 sq ft roof yields 625 gallons from 1″ rain. Calculate your harvest with the Rainfall Harvest Calculator. Rain Barrels department has barrels, diverters, linking kits.
5. Reduce your lawn. Turfgrass is one of the thirstiest, most labor-intensive “gardens.” Consider groundcovers or low-maintenance perennials instead. Read Be a Grower, Not a Mower.
6. Plan before you plant. Leverage site characteristics (sun, shade, wind, soil). Group plants with similar water needs. Consider how water reaches remote corners. Planning saves time and energy.
7. Choose plants carefully. Plants satisfied with natural rainfall need less work. For drought-tolerant perennials, pick natives (or similar-climate region plants)—they're adapted to your climate and soils. A Pacific Northwest plant will need lots of extra water in Colorado. Call your local cooperative extension or talk to a local garden center for area-suited plants.
8. Take care of your plants. Healthy plants need less water, fertilizer, and pest control than stressed ones. Stay on top of weeding, thinning, pruning, pest monitoring—you'll water less often.

Plants & Water 101

During photosynthesis, green plants use water and CO₂ to make food. Roots take up water, transport to leaves. CO₂ enters through microscopic leaf pores (stomata). When stomata open for CO₂, water vapor escapes—transpiration. Transpiration cools the plant (like perspiration). Water vapor can also condense on leaves and enter through stomata.

Water Facts

• Vegetable crops are 80–95% water
• Average garden soil stores 2–4 inches of water per foot
• Growing crops need ~1–2 inches water per week
• Average tomato plant transpires ~30 gallons/season
• Corn plant transpires ~55 gallons from germination to harvest
• Air under shady trees is cooler due to higher moisture from leaf transpiration