Easy keys to a lush garden

You don't need to be a landscaping pro to ensure a healthy lawn and garden. Our easy plant-hydrating tricks will keep them gorgeous all summer long!

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For trees: Water less often for longer

The key to watering established plants is all in the roots, says master gardener Jennifer Schutter of PlantCarefully.com. Rather than water every day, give trees a soak every other day— and for at least 30 minutes each time. Why? Watering for shorter durations more frequently only provides moisture to the upper layers of the soil—this doesn’t give roots incentive to grow deeper, so they remain shallow.

Also smart: If your hose won’t reach your trees, try this hack: Drill a small hole near the base of an old bucket. Plug the hole with a dowel, fill the bucket with water and place it on a wheelbarrow. Once it’s near your trees, unplug the dowel and the water will flow in a slow stream to soak roots.

For grass: Turn sprinklers on at dawn

While we might prefer a cool drink on a hot day, the opposite