I'm looking for tips on how to water effectively during this dry spell. What methods or strategies have you found helpful for conserving water while keeping your plants healthy?
3 Answers
Only water if you're planning to really soak the soil. It seems counterintuitive, but giving them a good soak can actually be more beneficial than just sprinkling a little every day.
One effective trick is to water at the base of your plants and do it in the evening when the sun starts to go down. This way, less water evaporates and gets soaked right where the roots need it. Also, don't forget to add mulch; it keeps the moisture in the soil!
That's pretty much my routine, though I'm not the greatest at using mulch.
I actually use a moisture meter. It's surprising how the top layer of soil can look dry while it's still moist a few inches down. Since I started using it, I've cut back on watering significantly and saved a lot of water!
Now that's the kind of advice I needed! I’ll definitely check out moisture meters.

That's an interesting point. Why is it better to soak? Isn’t a little water better than none?