How many minutes a day do you water a garden?

Answer 1

Even out west, watering should be done in the early morning. Pre-dawn to no later than 7a.m. That way the water has a chance to dry off the leaves before the sun gets too high. If water remains on the foliage later than 10 a.m., it acts like a magnifying glass and burns the leaves. Watering at night, even in desert conditions can promote mildew.

Watering should be done less frequently, and deeper. Watering should saturate the top 1 inch of soil. Two inches is better. If your soil is sandy, you can top dress the lawn each spring with good topsoil to help it retain water.

But I have to say, I am not a fan of lawns in a desert. They guzzle so much precious water, because they weren't meant to survive in the desert. There are plenty of xeric plants that do much better in their own climate, and not all are cactus.

Xeriscaping is using the plants that are native to an area that don't require extraordinary care to keep them alive. They take less water, saving it from evaporation.

Source(s):Horticulture student, specializing in Xeriscaping