When Jakob, a home improvement blogger for Networx.com, offered to contribute a post about saving water in the garden, I instantly jumped at the opportunity to feature his piece! Our garden is starting to bloom, and I'm always looking for helpful tips to conserve water and energy, while still helping our plants flourish.

Delivery:
One of the ways to cut down on water usage is to give plants the minimum amount to make it through the day and not more. For example, plants don’t need to be drenched to be fed well. They just need a bit of water around their trunks where it can seep down and reach roots easily.That being the case, the best way to deliver water to plants is with something that has a straight controllable and easily maneuverable stream. A watering can is the perfect vessel for this because unlike a hose which shoots water with force and dumps it on undesirable vegetation, watering cans allow gardeners to hit the roots with pretty good aim.Even the spray setting on a hose can waste too much water, something that rarely happens with a watering can.

Timing:
After you’ve solved the delivery dilemma, knowing when to water is the next step. For instance, you wouldn’t want to water the garden in the middle of the day when the sun is the strongest.The best time to feed plants, especially those in direct sunlight, is in the morning. Doing so gives water a chance to reach roots without having to compete with the sun high above drying it up. Watering in the morning should give plants the strength they need to make it through the rest of the day.

More here: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/07/05/garden-tips-for-saving-water-guest-post/