County Agent

Clemson Extension

Smart watering means more than just lower water bills. It means healthier gardens. Watering too much or not enough produces weak plants that are susceptible to pests and disease. Learn to give plants the right amount of water for healthy growth, and to apply it so every drop counts. Did you know that many landscapes require very little watering after plants are well established? This only takes one to three years with good soil preparation and proper plant selection, so it pays to do the groundwork.

That’s not all. Smart watering promotes a healthier environment for all of us. By helping to keep plants healthier, smart watering practices may decrease the need for pesticide use. Smart watering may also lessen fertilizer and pesticide runoff from landscapes into streams and lakes, where it can affect birds, fish and their food sources. Finally, smart watering conserves water so it can benefit people, plants, fish and other wildlife.

From May through September, water use in our region nearly doubles, primarily for lawns and gardens. Experts estimate that 50 percent or more of this water goes to waste, due to evaporation, runoff or simply overwatering.

It is important to make every drop count. Watering deeply but less often encourages deep roots and prevents disease. Moistening the soil a little deeper than the roots grow draws them deeper-which is particularly important in the first one to three years after planting, while plants are becoming established. Let the top few inches of soil dry before watering again, so roots and soil life can breathe.

Much of the water applied to lawns and gardens never makes it to plant roots. Make the most of every drop by following these simple guidelines:

Use drip irrigation, or soaker hoses on all plants except lawn.

Mulch to reduce evaporation from the soil surface.

Minimize evaporation by watering early in the day and when the wind is calm.

Use sprinklers that apply water slowly enough so soil can absorb it without run-off. If puddling occurs, run sprinklers for a short time, then turn them off and allow water to soak in before you resume watering.

Place sprinklers to avoid watering driveways, sidewalks or walls.

Manual watering with hose allowing 30 seconds per plant using slow stream.

Remember, the goal is to get water to the roots of your plants. Wetting the soil surface without penetrating the root zone does nothing for your plants. Overwatering literally drowns plants, rotting their roots and inhibiting nutrient absorption. So how much is right? The best way to find out if plants need water is to watch for signs that they are thirsty. You can also check how well your soil retains moisture by digging into the root zone with a garden trowel. If the soil feels moist, wait a day or two and check again.