You Might Be Watering Your Outdoor Plants the Wrong Way—Here’s What to Do Instead

The summer heat can leave your garden looking a little limp and sad—wilting hydrangea, crispy rose petals, and dragging herbs. The solution is obviously to give your parched plants a drink to help perk them up. But it turns out, your watering method could actually be wasting water—or even damaging your plants.

Learn what mistakes you could be making as you water your garden—and how to make the most of every drop of water you use.

You’re watering at the wrong time

If your plants are looking wilted in the afternoon sun, you may be tempted to just pick up the hose and give them a drink right then. But you’re far better off waiting until the sun’s about to go down—or ideally, early the next day. “Water your plants in the morning as early as possible, if they are outside soaking up the summer sun,” says Victor Castro, plant expert and owner of The Nursery Project USA. “This allows the soil and your plants to absorb more water because, in the heat of the day, there is more evaporation occurring at the soil surface.”

You’re watering too hard

More water isn’t necessarily better for your plants, especially if you’re turning on a sprinkler or hose full blast at them—high water pressure can damage your plants, Castro says. “This can result in soil compaction, which can hinder growth.” Go slow and gentle when you’re watering instead.

You’re focused on the wrong parts of the plant

Watering indiscriminately or focusing the water on the leaves and flowers is another major no-no. You want to focus your firepower (or in this case, water power!) where it actually counts. “Water the soil, not the leaves,” Castro says. “If you’re watering by hand with a hose nozzle or watering wand, direct the water toward the base of the plant. Make sure to keep the foliage dry and water slowly and deeply.”

You’re wasting water

Water is precious—and even if you don’t live somewhere that has watering restrictions due to drought, you’re best off making every drop count. While sprinklers tend to be the most common way to water yards, they’re also the worst offenders as far as wasting water—research suggests that up to half of the water that flows through your sprinkler is lost to wind, evaporation, leaks, and other issues. “Sprinklers tend to waste water by watering areas that do not require it, such as sidewalks or driveways,” Castro says. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses that are run through your garden and release water slowly to your plant’s roots can cut back on much of the water waste.

Another potential water saver—collect your own rainwater for use. “To really minimize your water usage, irrigate or recycle rainwater,” Castro says.

You’re not watering long enough

Rather than a short burst of water every day, Castro recommends doing a deeper watering less frequently to strengthen your plant’s roots and help it thrive—even during drought conditions. “Water occasionally, but thoroughly each time, allowing water to soak through plant pots (drainage is important here) and in the morning or evening,” Castro says. Generally, plants require about an inch of water per week either through watering or rainfall—but you’ll want to check out your individual plants’ needs, as some plants may require more or less than that.

You’re using the wrong watering methods

That traditional watering can may look cute—and be effective for small pots—but they also tend to distribute water all over the plant, rather than just the roots. And sprinklers obviously result in lots of water loss. Castro recommends some alternatives to traditional sprinkler systems, such as drip irrigation, soaker hoses, manual sprinklers, and smart irrigation systems. “Soaker hoses, which are laid on the soil surface to slowly seep water, are more efficient.”