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Maintaining trees, shrubs and valuable plants during the triple threat of extreme heat, drought and water restrictions can be tough. Help your plants manage through the drought with these helpful guidelines.

"Trees and shrubs provide shade, clean the air, and increase property value," said Calvin Finch, SAWS Director of Water Resources. "Even in the current drought, you can ensure they survive if you have a plan in place."

Here are some tips to help your trees and shrubs:

• Hand-water or use drip irrigation on shade trees and shrubs that are stressed, especially if they were disturbed or recently planted.
• Water your trees only when needed; while young trees and shrubs may need watering once a week, established trees will rarely need extra watering.
• Where you target the water is also important. For newly planted trees, apply to the root ball; for mature trees, target the drip line.
• Use compost and mulch over the root system to help conserve water and maintain plants. We recommend applying 1 inch of compost in the spring and fall, and 3 inches of mulch in May and September.

Here are some guidelines for specific plants:

• Roses – Watering depends on the type of rose. Some of the old-fashioned or tough modern varieties should be watered deeply by hand, soaker hose or drip irrigation every two to three weeks, while hybrid tea and other modern roses need to be watered well every week.
• Annual flowers – Water annual flowers by hand when the soil dries to 1/2 inch. Water plants in containers until water emerges from the drip hole.
• Spring-blooming perennials - Well-adapted spring-blooming perennials will survive a hot summer without too much attention. Hand-water or use drip irrigation to give them a deep watering about once a month.
• Fruit trees – Some are more sensitive than others, but if a tree is full of fruit, it will need watering. Most will need a good weekly watering to produce a full yield of fruit the following year.

Sign up for weekly landscape watering advice with the WaterSaver e-newsletter, which offers recommendations based on weather data. SAWS will send a personalized e-mail with your advice on the day of your choice. Visit www.saws.org/conservation for more gardening and irrigation tips, or to sign up for the WaterSaver e-newsletter.