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During the hot summer months, gardens need special care and watering to produce a bountiful harvest of vegetables. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach have provided tips to maximize a garden’s potential through watering. They advise, when watering gardens, water slowly and deeply with early mornings, between 5 and 9 a.m. being the best time to water a garden. Also, a deep watering once a week in dry weather should be adequate for most fruit, vegetable, and flower gardens. Mulch can be applied around landscape plants and garden areas to help conserve soil moisture, as it reduces the rate of evaporation from the soil surface.