As summers get hotter and heat waves last longer, we all want to keep our outdoor plants alive. But water is expensive and as we are increasingly experiencing droughts, it’s good to save water when we can.

Following are practical tips for keeping your plants healthy while minimizing water use:

1. Water deeply, but less often. Frequent shallow watering encourages roots to stay near the surface, where they dry out fast. Watering deeply once or twice a week trains roots to grow deeper, where soil stays cooler and moist longer.

2. Water early morning, not evening or midday. Watering between 5–8 AM lets moisture soak in before the heat causes evaporation. Evening watering can encourage fungal growth since plants stay damp overnight; midday watering loses a huge percentage to evaporation before it ever reaches roots.

3. Add Mulch (2–3 inches). Organic mulch (wood chips, straw, shredded leaves) insulates soil, blocks evaporation, and keeps roots cooler. It also suppresses weeds that would otherwise compete for water.

4. Switch to drip irrigation or soaker hoses. These deliver water straight to the root zone instead of spraying it into the air, where much of it evaporates before hitting the ground. Drip systems can cut water use by 30–50% compared to sprinklers.

5. Group plants by water needs (hydrozoning). Cluster thirsty plants together and drought-tolerant ones together, so you're not overwatering the tough plants just to keep the thirsty ones alive. This also makes targeted watering easier.

6. Add shade during peak heat. A shade cloth, umbrella, or even strategically placed patio furniture during the hottest afternoon hours (roughly noon–4 PM) reduces water loss and heat stress, especially for young or shallow-rooted plants.

7. Choose native and drought-tolerant plants. Native species are adapted to your local climate and typically need far less supplemental water once established. Flowering plants such as Black-eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower, and Butterfly weed do well here. Holly, Bayberry, Eastern Redbud, and Serviceberry are trees and shrubs that tolerate drought after year two.

A bonus tip: check soil moisture with a finger test (2 inches down) before watering — in extreme heat, it's easy to overwater out of anxiety even when the soil is still damp beneath the surface.