I feel silly mentioning this - considering all the rainfall we've had - but it is time to talk about watering your gardens.

The best way to do this is to imitate the rain we just had - gentle and soaking. Watering this way prevents soil erosion and it will also limit the runoff of fertilizers that you may have applied.

A watering wand, like these made by Dramm, is the best tool for watering. They sell for between $15 and $25.

Gardeners complain, however, that wands aren't very durable, so it pays to be as gentle with them as you are with your plants.

The other bad news? You wouldn't want to sleep in a puddle, and neither do your plants. You have time to water in the evening, after work, but the time you should be watering is in the morning, before work.

So, set your alarm.

 Photo courtesy of Dramm