Place a layer of mulch around trees and plants to retain water. Use a moisture indicator to tell when your lawn needs watering and when it does not. Do not over-water your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every five to seven days in the summer and every ten to fourteen days in the winter. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks.
Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speeds are the lowest.
This reduces losses from evaporation. Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn. Consider installing drip irrigation for individual bushes, trees, flowers, and garden areas. For swimming pools, consider buying a cover to reduce evaporation and a water-saving pool filter.