In our heavily populated area, the demand for water is very high, producing the need for seasonal water restrictions. The very words "water restrictions" tend to strike fear in the hearts of even the most seasoned gardeners. But don't despair.

Beautiful yards take a lot less water than you think. In fact, more Georgia lawns are damaged each year from over-watering than they are from lack of water. When you use water wisely, you can provide your lawns and landscape plants with the water they need, even during the hottest part of the summer. It just takes some common sense and watering know-how. Read on to learn how to water your landscape wisely.

Attach a water breaker to the end of your water hose for a gentle flow. Direct the water breaker to the roots, which spread two to three times the width of the top growth. A typical garden hose can deliver five gallons of water per minute. Do not use water to mist foliage, and avoid shallow watering practices.

Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation "snaked" throughout a bed or placed around a tree under the "drip line" (the outermost branches) are extremely efficient ways to water. A soaker hose distributes water one foot wide on either side of the hose. Adding a timer at the hose bib takes all the remembering out of the entire process. Drip irrigation uses 50% less water than a sprinkler.

Use a 3 - 5 inch layer of mulch over the plant's root system to help conserve moisture. Ground pine bark, hardwood mulch, or cypress mulch are all conveniently bagged and easy to use. A three cubic foot bag of mulch will cover seven square feet three inches thick. If you have shredded paper available to you, consider using it under the wood mulch you select. Shredded paper will allow the water to penetrate and will decompose, enriching, even more, the soil that lies beneath.

Give priority to trees and shrubs planted within the last five months.

If restrictions do not allow you to water at all, prune back trees and shrubs by one-third to one-half when they become severely wilted and begin shedding leaves. This will reduce water demand on the roots and increase their chances of survival.

Note: If runoff occurs before you are finished watering, move on to another spot and return to continue watering after the water has soaked in.