Conserve and recycle your water and don’t kill your garden.
With temperatures increasing, many municipalities are beginning to implement their summer watering restrictions. In some locations, this means that all watering of lawns is forbidden – unless you are using recycled water. In other locations, watering of lawns is allowed, but only on specific days and for a specified period of time.
If you don't have any plans in place for watering your lawn and garden, there are still some methods you can use this season. Keep a basin in the kitchen sink to catch run-off water used for rinsing hands and dishes. Have a large bucket nearby that you can empty the basin into until you can water your garden in the cool evening or first thing in the morning. Watering at any other time can burn your plants and, also, most of it evaporates and does no good.
Keep the water you use for washing fruit and vegetables by washing them in a basin rather than under a running tap.
When taking your shower, put the plug in place so you can capture the water. There is nothing wrong with watering your lawn and garden with some recycled soapy water. When you have finished your bath or shower you can use buckets to retrieve the water, or, set up a siphon system through the bathroom window with your garden hose.
Add mulch to your plant beds to slow down evaporation. Your lawn will recover quickly once it starts to rain again, but your plants will be much more difficult to revive if they don't get enough water. Water your plants before you water your lawn.
Once you get through the summer, consider installing water barrels to collect rain water. Use as many as you need based on the size of your garden. If you can use rain water for the first few weeks of water restrictions you should be able to save your garden.
Also consider redesigning your garden and planting drought resistant trees and plants. Removing some lawn would also be a great idea and you could add a nice sitting area in its place.