Watering less but better: sprinkler settings that work

Daily light watering trains roots to live at the surface, where they cook in July. The fix costs nothing.

The schedule

Two or three deep waterings a week, early morning, about an inch total. Lawns want depth, not frequency. Beds prefer drip lines on a separate zone.

The one-hour tune-up

Matched heads, no overspray on pavement, and a rain sensor. Most homes cut summer water noticeably after one visit.