Feel the soil first
Before reaching for the hose, check below the surface. Dry mulch doesn’t always mean dry soil. Pots, new plantings, and established beds can all need water at different times. Wilting can mean too much water as well as too little, so a quick soil check is more useful than watering on a fixed schedule.
Water slowly at the roots
Give the soil time to absorb water instead of letting it run off. Check that pots have drainage holes, and remember that they often dry out faster than beds. Morning is a useful time to water. After rain, adjust your irrigation, and keep an eye out for blocked heads or water landing on the pavement.
Keep mulch away from stems
Mulch helps hold moisture and slow weeds, but piling it up against a trunk or stem can cause problems. Spread it out and leave the base of the plant clear. Around a new tree, about two inches is a useful starting point. Check what’s already there before adding more; old mulch still counts.
Take a walk around the garden
A few minutes looking closely can catch a problem early. Check new growth, the undersides of leaves, and any dry or soggy patches. Pull weeds while they’re small. Before pruning or feeding, check what that particular plant needs. A soil test is a better starting point than adding fertilizer and hoping for the best.
ONE THING TO REMEMBER
Check the soil, water the roots, and give stems and trunks a little breathing room.
Keep learning
Want to read a little more? These are the resources behind the guide. Check your plant label and the conditions in your own yard, too.