 summer 2008  if the mild weather has you scratching your head about whether to water you are not alone in fact knowing when and how much to water is often a source of confusion fortunately the consortium takes the guesswork out of outdoor watering by providing the weekly watering number for free to portland metro area residents and commercial landscapers each thursday the weekly watering number is the amount of water in inches that lawns need each week by following the general guidelines below you can use the weekly watering number for other types of plants too learn more  shrubs 50 of the weekly watering number trees 50 of the weekly watering number vegetables 75 of the weekly watering number we love lawns a lawn can be a serene oasis a source of pride or an open space for kids or pets to play but they are also thirsty in fact  lawns use 23 times more water than other landscape plants current research indicates that lawn irrigation typically results in as much as 50 percent wasted water due to evaporation runoff overspray and overwatering with a little planning and care you can create a beautiful lawn area that incorporates form and function check our website for other waterwise landscaping tips the consortium is hitting the airwaves again this summer view our ads here  and then check our website for more info on how you can conserve water indoors and out   june 28 how much is too much  the greatest waste of water at home is often watering your lawn and garden too much too often learn how much water your lawn needs then use waterwise plants to add color drama and texture to your garden al s garden center  gresham 10 am 2pm july 28 sprinklers 101 join irrigation expert steve carper for an informal workshop that will cover the basics of efficient irrigation then stop by our booth for a free watering gauge kit and other resources farmington gardens  10 am 2 pm visit wwwconserveh2oorg for a complete list of free workshops and events topics include a variety of waterwise and natural gardening tips and techniques  1 water before 10 am or after 6 pm when temperatures are cooler and the air is calmer 2 water 1 inch per week on average lawns need 1 inch of water per week though you may need to water more or less depending on the weather 3 adjust your sprinklers so that they re watering your plants and lawn and not the sidewalk or street 4 add native and waterwise plants to your garden they are well suited to this region and require less water 5 sweep your sidewalk and driveways it s good exercise and it saves water visit wwwconserveh2oorg for more water conservation tips  the consortium provides planning and management support for the portland metro region s municipal water supplies contact us   copyright 2007 all rights reserved  summer 2008  