Watering During a Drought

Q: Please advise on watering techniques during a drought.

A. Water your most valuable plants first, especially the newly planted trees and shrubs that must have adequate moisture their first year to become established. Each week they require 1 inch of water spread evenly throughout their root zones. This is best accomplished using a ground-level watering device that targets water directly toward the roots. Overhead sprinklers waste valuable water through evaporation and improper aim. Established turf grass can survive with just 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water every two to four weeks. The grass will brown, but the crown and roots will remain alive. Grass will green up when normal watering resumes.