Waterwise Gardening - a book review

Waterwise Gardening: Everything You Need To Know About Efficient Watering to Grow a Healthy Yard by Richard Restuccia

Published by Rizzoli, 2025

I would guess that watering is the major issue that most gardeners grapple with, especially novice gardeners. I know from working at the nursery that the majority of questions and issues we get stem from either watering too much or not watering enough. 

Many people in our area have sprinkler systems and I'm sure that can be a good thing if used properly but I feel that they primarily keep the lawns green but fall short for landscape plants. Especially when it comes to trees and larger plants, the timing and amounts are not satisfactory for many plants. I often hear people say that their sprinklers are set to come on every day - yikes! And there are those who did not water because it "rained" when it actually drizzled. 

The best thing to do in this situation is to have a xeric garden but that would mean sacrificing favorite plants. Guilty as charged! For those of us who have gardens that require watering, this book provides valuable advice.

Author Richard Restuccia is from La Jolla, California and has served on the Irrigation Association Board of Directors and been a consultant with private companies concerning water management. He begins the book by discussing soil health, how to determine your soil type,  either by an at-home jar test (which is illustrated in detail) or a professional soil analysis. 

A detailed chapter on crop coefficients (used to relate the water-use of a specific crop to the water-use of a reference plant includes charts with extensive lists of plants for specific regions of the country that gives  their coeffecient values and estimated root depth. 

Restuccia then takes us into the actual practice of watering - how often, how much and how to tell if you are over-watering and under-watering (the symptoms are very similar!). Another problem arises from over-fertilization and the signs of that are also covered. 

Finally, an in-depth analysis of irrigation systems covers how to set them, how to use them and the maintenance. 

Although it can be very technical at times, this is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to understand the watering needs of plants and, in the process, becoming a more ecological gardener. 

This book is available at book stores and Amazon.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Rizzoli Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy