Water-Wise Gardening

The Doyenne of Dirt reports for Morning Edition on making the most of water in the garden.

May 23, 2001 -- It's way too soon for anyone to be yelling Drought! Right now, the majority of U.S. gardeners are not facing parched, hard times. Which is precisely why it's a good time to re-evaluate the ways you use water in the garden, and make the most of every life-giving drop.

Wade right in with a couple of basic tips:

• Water plants in the morning, deeply and infrequently.

• Get rid of the sprinkler and switch to drip or soaker hoses.

• Mulch, mulch, mulch.

• Forget the lawn; it'll come back in fall.

• Remove plants for whom nothing is ever enough.

• Choose your battles if water is scarce and protect vulnerable trees and shrubs.

• Experiment with unfamiliar, drought-tolerant plants.

• If water is certain to be scarce, hold off planting till fall.

For tips and advice about your specific region, click on your area on the map below. Keep in mind that you might have to borrow from adjacent regions to get the most accurate picture of your gardening climate.