Tips for watering your garden efficiently during Western Washington’s drought season

August has a dry sense of humor, with sunny skies and warm days arriving just as the beans need to be picked and the garden demands extra water — a heavy harvest just when the heat can make you want to sit in the shade and relax.

In Western Washington, your lawn has undoubtedly gone “golden,” or dormant, these months if you don’t give it at least one inch of water a week.

Summer dormancy is not a tragic turn for the lawn as it will green up again when the fall rains return. To save on your water bill or just to conserve water in general, here are the top tips for watering without waste:

Water in the morning or evening

This means less water evaporation from the sun, and a cooler time of day to work for the gardener.

Direct water to the roots of plants, not the leaves

Wet leaves are more likely to rot or become disease prone, especially during warm spells.

Water deep to encourage the roots to follow

Less frequent but longer watering sessions is the best way to train roots.

Don’t expect a ‘one size fits all’ schedule

How much and how often you should water changes and is different for different parts of the garden. It depends on the type of plant and quality of your soil. Sandy soil dries out sooner, soils rich in organic matter hold moisture.

Position containers and baskets so that draining water runs into a bed or lawn

And adjust your sprinkler to avoid watering the driveway, patio, street or sidewalk, which is wasteful.

An oscillating sprinkler is most efficient

That is the type that moves back and forth when it waters. Allowing water drops to soak in a bit before more water is added helps to draw water deeper into the soil. Give credit to the miracle of capillary action.

Water as soon as the top inch of soil in a container becomes dry

Many annuals will suffer and stop blooming if allowed to dry out even once.

Get water deep for shrubs and tree roots

You can sink a plastic pipe into the root zone and water into the pipe or use a spiked tree watering device to soak the roots a foot or two below the soil level. This helps those cherry tree roots that like to rise to the surface of your lawn to head down deep searching for more moisture.

Recycle water and capture ‘gray’ water for your plants

Rain barrels and cisterns are the most common way to capture rain water, but indoors you can collect water from half consumed water bottles, unsalted water used in cooking, and water used to rinse vegetables. You can even add a dish pan to your shower to collect water that would otherwise go down the drain.

Water is a natural resource we sometimes take for granted in Western Washington — until August arrives.

Marianne Binetti has a degree in horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of several books. Reach her at binettigarden.com.