🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 25 (from laksa098)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa025.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-02-28/how-often-water-your-plants\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-02-28/how-often-water-your-plants\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2020-02-28\/how-often-water-your-plants","crawl_time":1775860899,"first_indexed_time":1582899387,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,latimes!www,\/lifestyle\/story\/2020-02-28\/how-often-water-your-plants s443","src_root_hash":"7344800029135033825","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"How often should I water my plants? - Los Angeles Times","meta_descriptions":["Different plants have different watering needs: California native plants, for example, need significantly less water than, say, roses and vegetables."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Lawns get a bum rap for requiring too much water, said Jim Baird, a turf grass specialist at UC Riverside’s\nTurfgrass Research Facility.\nThe problem isn’t with lawns, he says. They keep dust down and neighborhoods cooler, thus reducing energy costs.\nThe problem, Baird said, is the way people water their lawns. Think “deficit watering” rather than “optimum watering” to keep your water costs low and your lawns healthy, he said.\nLearn how to use your sprinkler timer, and turn off your irrigation in the cool months between November and April.\nWhen it warms up, water deeply in the early morning or evening for 10 to 15 minutes three or four days a week, depending on your lawn type (three days for warm-season grasses, such Bermuda; four days for cool-season grasses, such as fescue). If runoff is a problem, divide your watering time into three-minute cycles, Baird said. “Your lawn won’t be super lush,” he said, “but it will be good enough.”\nIf you’re planting or redoing your lawn, consider warm-season grasses such as Bermuda or buffalo grass, which need about 20% less water to stay green in hot, dry conditions, Baird said. Bermuda lawns aren’t as popular as fescue because they turn brown in winter, but there are many varieties of Bermuda, Baird said, and UCR’s Turfgrass Research Facility is developing new varieties that stay green during their dormant season.\nRegular feeding of your lawn about four times a year can help reduce its water needs as well, Baird said. Grass needs nitrogen, and one of the best fertilizers is its own clippings, he said, so instead of sending clippings to the landfill, invest in a mulching mower and stop wasting that free fertilizer.\nBe sure your mower blades are sharpened at least once a year, because dull blades shred and stress the grass. And be sure you are mowing to the right height — 3 to 4 inches for fescue\/cool-season grasses but just 1½ to 2 inches for Bermuda\/warm-season grasses.\nFinally, check your sprinklers every year to be sure they are working properly. Fixed-spray nozzles of the same size are more efficient than rotary type sprinklers, but if you’re replacing or installing a lawn, Marco Schiavon, Baird’s colleague, thinks the most efficient system is subsurface irrigation, a series of PVC pipes with holes, spaced about a foot apart, 4 to 6 inches deep.\nIf you see brown spots on your lawn, don’t start watering more, Shiavon said. No above-ground irrigation system provides 100% distribution, he said, so it’s better to just hand-water brown spots, or give it a good drink with an old-fashioned spot sprinkler.","attrs_markdown":"- [News](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/)\n  \n  - [Home Page](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/)\n  - [California](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california)\n  - [Election 2024](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/topic\/election-2024)\n  - [Housing & Homelessness](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/homeless-housing)\n  - [Politics](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/politics)\n  - [Science & Medicine](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/science)\n  - [World & Nation](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/world-nation)\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/business)\n  \n  - [Artificial Intelligence](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/topic\/artificial-intelligence)\n  - [Autos](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/business\/autos)\n  - [Jobs, Labor & Workplace](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/topic\/jobs-labor)\n  - [Real Estate](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/business\/real-estate)\n  - [Technology and the Internet](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/business\/technology)\n- [California](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california)\n  \n  - [California Politics](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/topic\/california-law-politics)\n  - [Earthquakes](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/topic\/earthquakes)\n  - [Education](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/topic\/education)\n  - [Housing & Homelessness](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/homeless-housing)\n  - [L.A. 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Times Plants](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/topic\/plants)\n- [A guide to houseplants](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2020-02-28\/indoor-plants-common-questions)\n- [Sign up for our newsletter](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/plants-newsletter-archive)\n- [@latimesplants](https:\/\/instagram.com\/latimesplants)\n\nBreaking News\n\n[Rep. Eric Swalwell, front-runner of California governor’s race, accused of sexually assaulting female staff member](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-04-10\/swalwell-accusations)\n\nAdvertisement\n\n[![Plants](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/9f\/a3\/fa56b35d4560993f1819809a6016\/plantslogo-01.svg)](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/topic\/plants)\n\n# How often should you water your plants? When in doubt, check the soil\n\n![Illustration of a golden watering can against a blue background](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/a3bd4b8\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1800x1200+0+0\/resize\/2400x1600!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F95%2Fc3%2F5595207a4aca83bf7f54a08451aa%2Fout-waterplants.jpg)\n\nDifferent plants have different watering needs: California native plants, for example, need significantly less water than, say, roses and vegetables.\n\n(Julia Yellow \/ For The Times)\n\n[![Jeanette Marantos.](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/8a175be\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/2063x2063+2408+845\/resize\/130x130!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5b%2F24%2Fe4879129449793c83d754ed1c3ba%2Fstaff-bio-jeanette-marantos-02.JPG)](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/people\/jeanette-marantos)\n\nBy [Jeanette Marantos](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/people\/jeanette-marantos)\n\nStaff Writer\n\n[Follow](https:\/\/x.com\/jmarantos)\n\nFeb. 28, 2020 6 AM PT\n\n- Share via\n  \n  Close extra sharing options\n  \n  - [Email](mailto:?body=How%20often%20should%20you%20water%20your%20plants%3F%20When%20in%20doubt%2C%20check%20the%20soil%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants%0A%0ADifferent%20plants%20have%20different%20watering%20needs%3A%20California%20native%20plants%2C%20for%20example%2C%20need%20significantly%20less%20water%20than%2C%20say%2C%20roses%20and%20vegetables.)\n  - [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants)\n  - [X](https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants&text=How%20often%20should%20you%20water%20your%20plants%3F%20When%20in%20doubt%2C%20check%20the%20soil)\n  - [LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants&title=How%20often%20should%20you%20water%20your%20plants%3F%20When%20in%20doubt%2C%20check%20the%20soil&summary=Different%20plants%20have%20different%20watering%20needs%3A%20California%20native%20plants%2C%20for%20example%2C%20need%20significantly%20less%20water%20than%2C%20say%2C%20roses%20and%20vegetables.&source=Los%20Angeles%20Times)\n  - [Threads](https:\/\/threads.net\/intent\/post?text=How%20often%20should%20you%20water%20your%20plants%3F%20When%20in%20doubt%2C%20check%20the%20soil%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants)\n  - [Reddit](https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants&title=How%20often%20should%20you%20water%20your%20plants%3F%20When%20in%20doubt%2C%20check%20the%20soil)\n  - [WhatsApp](https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=How%20often%20should%20you%20water%20your%20plants%3F%20When%20in%20doubt%2C%20check%20the%20soil%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants)\n  - Copy Link URL Copied\\!\n  - Print\n\n1\n\nWhen it comes to watering plants, the best advice is simple: Water infrequently but deeply, and let the soil be your guide.\n\nSome plants have greater water needs than others. Once established, for instance, California native plants and even some Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and thyme don’t like much water. Roses and vegetables, however, are generally thirstier, and require consistent water.\n\nTo start, it’s best to group plants with similar water needs. For instance, don’t try to grow water-loving tomatoes and basil with rosemary, because there’s no way you can keep everybody happy, said Yvonne Savio, creator of the [Gardening in L.A](https:\/\/www.gardeninginla.net\/). blog and long-time director of the UC Cooperative Extension [Master Gardener](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/home\/la-hm-savio-20150606-story.html) program. “You need to create different zones, so plants with similar needs go together,” she said.\n\nAdvertisement\n\nThe bottom line: Water deeply one or two times a week instead of short spurts every other day, said Savio and professional gardener Lauri Kranz of [Edible Gardens L.A](https:\/\/ediblegardensla.com\/a-garden-can-be-anywhere\/). and author of “A Garden Can Be Anywhere.”\n\nEven in the warmest days of summer, a good soak every three or four days is best for plants because it forces their roots deeper into the soil where they are healthier and cooler. Shallow-rooted plants are more susceptible to damage during heat waves.\n\n2\n\n### Watering edibles\nKranz usually plants in raised beds of untreated, unpainted wood (no wider than 4 feet so the middle is always within reach). She thinks drip irrigation is the best way to keep them watered. After she fills the beds with soil, she lays a half-inch irrigation hose on one end and strings quarter-inch perforated hoses the length of the bed, 6 inches apart.\n\nMore questions about outdoor plants\n\n[How do I spend less money on plants\/gardening?](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2020-02-28\/best-ways-save-money-gardening-plants)  \n  \n[What plants help bees and butterflies?](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2020-02-28\/plants-that-help-bees-and-butterflies)  \n  \n[What is xeriscaping and why you should know about it?](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2020-02-28\/xeriscaping-choosing-plants-dry-climate)  \n  \n[What plants are good for kid gardeners?](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2020-02-28\/the-best-tips-for-getting-children-in-the-garden)  \n  \n[Which plants attract pests?](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2020-02-28\/plants-attract-pests-stressed-unloved)\n\nDuring spring and summer in Southern California, she suggests drip watering three times a week for 18 minutes, then adjusting from there if the soil is too wet or dry. Don’t know how to tell? Stick your finger in the soil. If it’s consistently moist 2 inches down, your plants are fine. If it’s dry, break out the hose.\n\nDrip irrigation on a timer gives you consistent watering, but be sure to check your garden regularly to see whether it’s getting enough water, Kranz said. You may need to water more often when it’s especially hot.\n\nAdvertisement\n\nKranz generally uses organic potting soil and compost in her beds, along with an organic mulch, which keeps moisture in the ground longer. Savio also uses lots of compost in her soil and mulch on top as well as a thin (about a half-inch) layer of coffee grounds to help keep moisture in the soil. (She collects from local coffee shops. Don’t put coffee grounds on too thickly, she said, because they can get crusty and repel water.)\n\n[![PASADENA-CA-JULY 19, 2018: Master gardener Yvonne Savio walks through her garden at home in Pasadena on Thursday, July 19, 2018. (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/5f3b99d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/864x576+80+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4c%2F3d%2Fa83df7efb22cadf9bebfb0b8c057%2Fla-1560965742-f8a8ulu2s8-snap-image)](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/home\/la-hm-ga-deep-water-technique-20190621-story.html)\n\n[Lifestyle](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle)\n\n### [Why deep watering may be the answer to your garden woes](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/home\/la-hm-ga-deep-water-technique-20190621-story.html)\n\nDeep watering is the holy grail of vegetable gardening.\n\nJune 21, 2019\n\nSavio has developed an effective way of keeping her extensive vegetable garden watered. She has buried 5-gallon nursery buckets, drainage holes in the bottom, between her tomatoes and other vegetables. She fills the buckets a couple of times a week so the water drains slowly into the soil.\n\nChoose buckets with thick, firm sides so they don’t buckle, and don’t forget the drainage holes in the bottom. Bury the buckets so their tops are about 4 inches above the soil, she said, to leave room for mulch. This also makes it less likely that lizards will fall in.\n\nMost nurseries have an ample supply, Savio said, and sell them for a nominal fee, if they charge at all.\n\n[![PASADENA, CALIF. -- THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019: Yvonne Savio, 71, a master gardener, at her garden in Pasadena, Calif., on March 21, 2019. A Mathiola species also know as Stock is in the soil. Over the years Savio's soil has become a stellar example of what all soils should be---crumbly, moist, nutrient rich and full of beneficial life, from worms to root-hugging fungi. (Gary Coronado \/ Los Angeles Times)](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/b65afa0\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1727x1151+160+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd8%2Fe2%2Fc6d2132f30fc2d628080b05b9901%2Fla-1555970064-z9hlqswke4-snap-image)](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/home\/la-hm-ga-how-to-feed-your-gardening-soil-20190503-story.html)\n\n[Lifestyle](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle)\n\n### [Must Reads: The one gardening mistake you can’t afford to make](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/home\/la-hm-ga-how-to-feed-your-gardening-soil-20190503-story.html)\n\nIt’s warming up — at last\\!\n\nMay 3, 2019\n\nThe buckets make fertilizing easy. Add a shovelful of manure to the water or add liquid fertilizers, following the directions on the label.\n\nAdvertisement\n\nAlready planted your garden? Savio suggests digging holes about a foot from your plants, until their roots become visible, which may be just a few inches down. Stop digging when you see the roots, she said, and place the bucket as far as you can into that shallow hole. The water will still go deeper than surface watering and allow you to add fertilizers.\n\n3\n\n### Watering lawns\nLawns get a bum rap for requiring too much water, said Jim Baird, a turf grass specialist at UC Riverside’s [Turfgrass Research Facility.](https:\/\/turfgrass.ucr.edu\/) The problem isn’t with lawns, he says. They keep dust down and neighborhoods cooler, thus reducing energy costs.\n\nThe problem, Baird said, is the way people water their lawns. Think “deficit watering” rather than “optimum watering” to keep your water costs low and your lawns healthy, he said.\n\nLearn how to use your sprinkler timer, and turn off your irrigation in the cool months between November and April.\n\nWhen it warms up, water deeply in the early morning or evening for 10 to 15 minutes three or four days a week, depending on your lawn type (three days for warm-season grasses, such Bermuda; four days for cool-season grasses, such as fescue). If runoff is a problem, divide your watering time into three-minute cycles, Baird said. “Your lawn won’t be super lush,” he said, “but it will be good enough.”\n\nAdvertisement\n\nIf you’re planting or redoing your lawn, consider warm-season grasses such as Bermuda or buffalo grass, which need about 20% less water to stay green in hot, dry conditions, Baird said. Bermuda lawns aren’t as popular as fescue because they turn brown in winter, but there are many varieties of Bermuda, Baird said, and UCR’s Turfgrass Research Facility is developing new varieties that stay green during their dormant season.\n\nRegular feeding of your lawn about four times a year can help reduce its water needs as well, Baird said. Grass needs nitrogen, and one of the best fertilizers is its own clippings, he said, so instead of sending clippings to the landfill, invest in a mulching mower and stop wasting that free fertilizer.\n\n[Archives](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/archives)\n\n### [5 ways to keep your lawn green — and still save water](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/home\/la-hm-lawn-care-during-a-drought-20180922-htmlstory.html)\n\nSept. 22, 2018\n\nBe sure your mower blades are sharpened at least once a year, because dull blades shred and stress the grass. And be sure you are mowing to the right height — 3 to 4 inches for fescue\/cool-season grasses but just 1½ to 2 inches for Bermuda\/warm-season grasses.\n\nFinally, check your sprinklers every year to be sure they are working properly. Fixed-spray nozzles of the same size are more efficient than rotary type sprinklers, but if you’re replacing or installing a lawn, Marco Schiavon, Baird’s colleague, thinks the most efficient system is subsurface irrigation, a series of PVC pipes with holes, spaced about a foot apart, 4 to 6 inches deep.\n\nIf you see brown spots on your lawn, don’t start watering more, Shiavon said. No above-ground irrigation system provides 100% distribution, he said, so it’s better to just hand-water brown spots, or give it a good drink with an old-fashioned spot sprinkler.\n\n[Lifestyle](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle)[Climate & Environment](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/environment)[Plants](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/topic\/plants)\n\n[![](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/8a175be\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/2063x2063+2408+845\/resize\/130x130!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5b%2F24%2Fe4879129449793c83d754ed1c3ba%2Fstaff-bio-jeanette-marantos-02.JPG)](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/people\/jeanette-marantos)\n\n[Jeanette Marantos](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/people\/jeanette-marantos)\n\nFollow Us\n\n- [X](https:\/\/x.com\/jmarantos)\n\nJeanette Marantos started writing for the Los Angeles Times in 1999, doing Money Makeovers until 2002. She returned to write for The Times’ Homicide Report in 2015 and the Saturday garden section in 2016, a yin and yang that kept her perspective in balance. In early 2020, she moved full time into Features, with a focus on all things flora. In June of 2023 she began writing the monthly [L.A. Times Plants](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/plants-newsletter-archive) newsletter, which included a calendar of upcoming plant-related events. Marantos was a SoCal native who spent more than 20 years in central Washington as a daily reporter, columnist, freelancer and mom before returning to the land of eucalyptus and sage. She died Feb. 7, 2026.\n\n### [More plant stories](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/topic\/plants)\n- [![Visitors to the L.A. Times Plants Booth at Festival of Books check out native plants on Sunday, April 27, 2025.](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/47e7449\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3684x2456+0+154\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F97%2F1a%2F0c279ead496c8cdeca9676bf6af0%2Fimg-1031-1.jpeg)](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2026-04-01\/visit-la-times-plants-booth-at-festival-of-books-usc-2026)\n  \n  ### [Stop and smell the native plants at the L.A. Times Plants booth at Festival of Books](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2026-04-01\/visit-la-times-plants-booth-at-festival-of-books-usc-2026)\n- [![GLENDALE, MARCH 15, 2026: Christopher Smee amongst California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) in his front yard. The yard features almost all California native plants in Glendale on Sunday, March 15, 2026. (Kit Karzen \/ For The Times)](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ca57a2f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4e%2Fb6%2F805337e94add88fff0b7ece007a1%2F1545819-fo-glendale-california-native-transformation-00241.jpg)](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2026-03-30\/christopher-smee-glendale-homeowner-swapped-lawn-for-native-plants-creating-a-thriving-habitat)\n  \n  ### [He swapped his lawn for native plants after asking, ‘What was meant to be here?’](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2026-03-30\/christopher-smee-glendale-homeowner-swapped-lawn-for-native-plants-creating-a-thriving-habitat)\n- [![LOS ANGELES-CA-JULY 2, 2024: The front yard of Chris Elwell and Kory Odell's Mid-Wilshire home is photographed on July 2, 2024. The couple turned their hilly, 10,000 square-foot yard into a habitat garden with water features and native plants. (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/a2b2713\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5461+0+1\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0c%2F33%2F682db91c404dbf0378734551e6e4%2F1463609-wk-0702-casa-apocalyptica-landscape-cmh-15.jpg)](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2026-03-18\/la-get-inspiration-for-your-home-garden-at-these-spring-socal-tours)\n  \n  ### [Get ideas for your home garden at these 19 spring garden tours around L.A.](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2026-03-18\/la-get-inspiration-for-your-home-garden-at-these-spring-socal-tours)\n- [![LANCASTER, CA - MARCH 12: Lorena Garcia, left, and Sal Garnica, right, from Riverside visit the California poppy bloom near the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Lancaster, CA. The State's wildflowers typically bloom from mid-March through April with the last \"super bloom\" with last year having poor \"superbloom,\" due to below-average winter rainfall. (Kayla Bartkowski \/ Los Angeles Times)](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/3cff89f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x5461+0+1\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fad%2Fac%2F6f0d96a34292a70f621d19afb076%2F1545674-wk-where-to-see-wildflowers-klb-243.jpg)](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2026-03-17\/la-where-to-find-wildflowers-near-los-angeles)\n  \n  ### [‘It’s still a great year for wildflowers’: Where to catch colorful blooms around SoCal](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2026-03-17\/la-where-to-find-wildflowers-near-los-angeles)\n- [![LOS ANGELES, CA -- FEBRUARY 22, 2026: The Flower Hour is a floral design workshop + floral smoke sesh at The ArtClub in downtown. Photographed on Sunday, February 22, 2026. (Jennifer McCord \/ For The Times)](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/b1a6fa7\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6016x4011+0+3\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F57%2F88%2Ff7003d794c2cad6886f3dde99b1f%2F1542265-wk-flower-hour-013.jpg)](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2026-03-02\/flower-hour-abriana-vicioso-los-angeles)\n  \n  ### [Smoke a joint and get deep with flowers at this guided floral design workshop in DTLA](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2026-03-02\/flower-hour-abriana-vicioso-los-angeles)\n- [![Jeanette Marantos.](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/1871646\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5814x3876+203+539\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4d%2F09%2Fde2842e342f09559d6ce97d9be45%2Fstaff-bio-jeanette-marantos-03.JPG)](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2026-02-09\/jeanette-marantos-obituary)\n  \n  ### [Jeanette Marantos, L.A. Times plants reporter, dies at 70](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/story\/2026-02-09\/jeanette-marantos-obituary)\n\nAdvertisement\n\n![A California Times publication](https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/a6\/d6\/eea0f1094fb281dbea09e0aa79cd\/art-caltimes-trademark-3x.png)\n\n[Subscribe for unlimited access](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/footersubscribe)  \n[Site Map](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sitemap)\n\nFollow Us\n\n- [X](https:\/\/x.com\/latimes)\n- [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/latimes\/)\n- [YouTube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/losangelestimes)\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/latimes)\n\n- - [eNewspaper](https:\/\/enewspaper.latimes.com\/)\n  - [Find\/Post Jobs](https:\/\/jobs.latimes.com\/)\n  - [Place an Ad](https:\/\/placeanad.latimes.com\/)\n  - [Media Kit: Why the L.A. Times?](https:\/\/mediakit.latimes.com\/)\n  - [Invest Now: Own a Part of History](https:\/\/join.latimes.com\/)\n- MORE FROM THE L.A. TIMES\n  \n  - [Crossword](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/games\/daily-crossword)\n  - [Obituaries](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/obituaries)\n  - [Recipes](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/food\/recipes)\n  - [Guides](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/lifestyle\/weekend)\n  - [L.A. Times Store](https:\/\/store.latimes.com\/)\n  \n  - [About\/Contact](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/about)\n  - [For the Record](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/about\/for-the-record\/)\n  - [L.A. Times Careers](https:\/\/careers.latimes.com\/)\n  - [Manage Subscription](https:\/\/membership.latimes.com\/)\n  - [Reprints and Permissions](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/about\/how-to-obtain-rights-permissions)\n\nCopyright © 2026, Los Angeles Times \\| [Terms of Service](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/terms-of-service) \\| [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/privacy-policy) \\| [CA Notice of Collection](https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/privacy-policy#california-notice-of-collection) \\| [Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information](https:\/\/membership.latimes.com\/privacy-settings)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Lawns get a bum rap for requiring too much water, said Jim Baird, a turf grass specialist at UC Riverside’s [Turfgrass Research Facility.](https:\/\/turfgrass.ucr.edu\/) The problem isn’t with lawns, he says. They keep dust down and neighborhoods cooler, thus reducing energy costs.\n\nThe problem, Baird said, is the way people water their lawns. Think “deficit watering” rather than “optimum watering” to keep your water costs low and your lawns healthy, he said.\n\nLearn how to use your sprinkler timer, and turn off your irrigation in the cool months between November and April.\n\nWhen it warms up, water deeply in the early morning or evening for 10 to 15 minutes three or four days a week, depending on your lawn type (three days for warm-season grasses, such Bermuda; four days for cool-season grasses, such as fescue). If runoff is a problem, divide your watering time into three-minute cycles, Baird said. “Your lawn won’t be super lush,” he said, “but it will be good enough.”\n\nIf you’re planting or redoing your lawn, consider warm-season grasses such as Bermuda or buffalo grass, which need about 20% less water to stay green in hot, dry conditions, Baird said. Bermuda lawns aren’t as popular as fescue because they turn brown in winter, but there are many varieties of Bermuda, Baird said, and UCR’s Turfgrass Research Facility is developing new varieties that stay green during their dormant season.\n\nRegular feeding of your lawn about four times a year can help reduce its water needs as well, Baird said. Grass needs nitrogen, and one of the best fertilizers is its own clippings, he said, so instead of sending clippings to the landfill, invest in a mulching mower and stop wasting that free fertilizer.\n\nBe sure your mower blades are sharpened at least once a year, because dull blades shred and stress the grass. And be sure you are mowing to the right height — 3 to 4 inches for fescue\/cool-season grasses but just 1½ to 2 inches for Bermuda\/warm-season grasses.\n\nFinally, check your sprinklers every year to be sure they are working properly. Fixed-spray nozzles of the same size are more efficient than rotary type sprinklers, but if you’re replacing or installing a lawn, Marco Schiavon, Baird’s colleague, thinks the most efficient system is subsurface irrigation, a series of PVC pipes with holes, spaced about a foot apart, 4 to 6 inches deep.\n\nIf you see brown spots on your lawn, don’t start watering more, Shiavon said. 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How often should I water my plants? - Los Angeles Times

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Different plants have different watering needs: California native plants, for example, need significantly less water than, say, roses and vegetables.

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Lawns get a bum rap for requiring too much water, said Jim Baird, a turf grass specialist at UC Riverside’s Turfgrass Research Facility. The problem isn’t with lawns, he says. They keep dust down and neighborhoods cooler, thus reducing energy costs. The problem, Baird said, is the way people water their lawns. Think “deficit watering” rather than “optimum watering” to keep your water costs low and your lawns healthy, he said. Learn how to use your sprinkler timer, and turn off your irrigation in the cool months between November and April. When it warms up, water deeply in the early morning or evening for 10 to 15 minutes three or four days a week, depending on your lawn type (three days for warm-season grasses, such Bermuda; four days for cool-season grasses, such as fescue). If runoff is a problem, divide your watering time into three-minute cycles, Baird said. “Your lawn won’t be super lush,” he said, “but it will be good enough.” If you’re planting or redoing your lawn, consider warm-season grasses such as Bermuda or buffalo grass, which need about 20% less water to stay green in hot, dry conditions, Baird said. Bermuda lawns aren’t as popular as fescue because they turn brown in winter, but there are many varieties of Bermuda, Baird said, and UCR’s Turfgrass Research Facility is developing new varieties that stay green during their dormant season. Regular feeding of your lawn about four times a year can help reduce its water needs as well, Baird said. Grass needs nitrogen, and one of the best fertilizers is its own clippings, he said, so instead of sending clippings to the landfill, invest in a mulching mower and stop wasting that free fertilizer. Be sure your mower blades are sharpened at least once a year, because dull blades shred and stress the grass. And be sure you are mowing to the right height — 3 to 4 inches for fescue/cool-season grasses but just 1½ to 2 inches for Bermuda/warm-season grasses. Finally, check your sprinklers every year to be sure they are working properly. Fixed-spray nozzles of the same size are more efficient than rotary type sprinklers, but if you’re replacing or installing a lawn, Marco Schiavon, Baird’s colleague, thinks the most efficient system is subsurface irrigation, a series of PVC pipes with holes, spaced about a foot apart, 4 to 6 inches deep. If you see brown spots on your lawn, don’t start watering more, Shiavon said. No above-ground irrigation system provides 100% distribution, he said, so it’s better to just hand-water brown spots, or give it a good drink with an old-fashioned spot sprinkler.

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Eric Swalwell, front-runner of California governor’s race, accused of sexually assaulting female staff member](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-10/swalwell-accusations) Advertisement [![Plants](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/9f/a3/fa56b35d4560993f1819809a6016/plantslogo-01.svg)](https://www.latimes.com/topic/plants) # How often should you water your plants? When in doubt, check the soil ![Illustration of a golden watering can against a blue background](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a3bd4b8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1200+0+0/resize/2400x1600!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F95%2Fc3%2F5595207a4aca83bf7f54a08451aa%2Fout-waterplants.jpg) Different plants have different watering needs: California native plants, for example, need significantly less water than, say, roses and vegetables. (Julia Yellow / For The Times) [![Jeanette Marantos.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8a175be/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2063x2063+2408+845/resize/130x130!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5b%2F24%2Fe4879129449793c83d754ed1c3ba%2Fstaff-bio-jeanette-marantos-02.JPG)](https://www.latimes.com/people/jeanette-marantos) By [Jeanette Marantos](https://www.latimes.com/people/jeanette-marantos) Staff Writer [Follow](https://x.com/jmarantos) Feb. 28, 2020 6 AM PT - Share via Close extra sharing options - [Email](mailto:?body=How%20often%20should%20you%20water%20your%20plants%3F%20When%20in%20doubt%2C%20check%20the%20soil%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants%0A%0ADifferent%20plants%20have%20different%20watering%20needs%3A%20California%20native%20plants%2C%20for%20example%2C%20need%20significantly%20less%20water%20than%2C%20say%2C%20roses%20and%20vegetables.) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants) - [X](https://x.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants&text=How%20often%20should%20you%20water%20your%20plants%3F%20When%20in%20doubt%2C%20check%20the%20soil) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants&title=How%20often%20should%20you%20water%20your%20plants%3F%20When%20in%20doubt%2C%20check%20the%20soil&summary=Different%20plants%20have%20different%20watering%20needs%3A%20California%20native%20plants%2C%20for%20example%2C%20need%20significantly%20less%20water%20than%2C%20say%2C%20roses%20and%20vegetables.&source=Los%20Angeles%20Times) - [Threads](https://threads.net/intent/post?text=How%20often%20should%20you%20water%20your%20plants%3F%20When%20in%20doubt%2C%20check%20the%20soil%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants) - [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants&title=How%20often%20should%20you%20water%20your%20plants%3F%20When%20in%20doubt%2C%20check%20the%20soil) - [WhatsApp](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=How%20often%20should%20you%20water%20your%20plants%3F%20When%20in%20doubt%2C%20check%20the%20soil%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fstory%2F2020-02-28%2Fhow-often-water-your-plants) - Copy Link URL Copied\! - Print 1 When it comes to watering plants, the best advice is simple: Water infrequently but deeply, and let the soil be your guide. Some plants have greater water needs than others. Once established, for instance, California native plants and even some Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and thyme don’t like much water. Roses and vegetables, however, are generally thirstier, and require consistent water. To start, it’s best to group plants with similar water needs. For instance, don’t try to grow water-loving tomatoes and basil with rosemary, because there’s no way you can keep everybody happy, said Yvonne Savio, creator of the [Gardening in L.A](https://www.gardeninginla.net/). blog and long-time director of the UC Cooperative Extension [Master Gardener](https://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-savio-20150606-story.html) program. “You need to create different zones, so plants with similar needs go together,” she said. Advertisement The bottom line: Water deeply one or two times a week instead of short spurts every other day, said Savio and professional gardener Lauri Kranz of [Edible Gardens L.A](https://ediblegardensla.com/a-garden-can-be-anywhere/). and author of “A Garden Can Be Anywhere.” Even in the warmest days of summer, a good soak every three or four days is best for plants because it forces their roots deeper into the soil where they are healthier and cooler. Shallow-rooted plants are more susceptible to damage during heat waves. 2 ### Watering edibles Kranz usually plants in raised beds of untreated, unpainted wood (no wider than 4 feet so the middle is always within reach). She thinks drip irrigation is the best way to keep them watered. After she fills the beds with soil, she lays a half-inch irrigation hose on one end and strings quarter-inch perforated hoses the length of the bed, 6 inches apart. More questions about outdoor plants [How do I spend less money on plants/gardening?](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-02-28/best-ways-save-money-gardening-plants) [What plants help bees and butterflies?](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-02-28/plants-that-help-bees-and-butterflies) [What is xeriscaping and why you should know about it?](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-02-28/xeriscaping-choosing-plants-dry-climate) [What plants are good for kid gardeners?](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-02-28/the-best-tips-for-getting-children-in-the-garden) [Which plants attract pests?](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-02-28/plants-attract-pests-stressed-unloved) During spring and summer in Southern California, she suggests drip watering three times a week for 18 minutes, then adjusting from there if the soil is too wet or dry. Don’t know how to tell? Stick your finger in the soil. If it’s consistently moist 2 inches down, your plants are fine. If it’s dry, break out the hose. Drip irrigation on a timer gives you consistent watering, but be sure to check your garden regularly to see whether it’s getting enough water, Kranz said. You may need to water more often when it’s especially hot. Advertisement Kranz generally uses organic potting soil and compost in her beds, along with an organic mulch, which keeps moisture in the ground longer. Savio also uses lots of compost in her soil and mulch on top as well as a thin (about a half-inch) layer of coffee grounds to help keep moisture in the soil. (She collects from local coffee shops. Don’t put coffee grounds on too thickly, she said, because they can get crusty and repel water.) [![PASADENA-CA-JULY 19, 2018: Master gardener Yvonne Savio walks through her garden at home in Pasadena on Thursday, July 19, 2018. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5f3b99d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/864x576+80+0/resize/840x560!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4c%2F3d%2Fa83df7efb22cadf9bebfb0b8c057%2Fla-1560965742-f8a8ulu2s8-snap-image)](https://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-ga-deep-water-technique-20190621-story.html) [Lifestyle](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle) ### [Why deep watering may be the answer to your garden woes](https://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-ga-deep-water-technique-20190621-story.html) Deep watering is the holy grail of vegetable gardening. June 21, 2019 Savio has developed an effective way of keeping her extensive vegetable garden watered. She has buried 5-gallon nursery buckets, drainage holes in the bottom, between her tomatoes and other vegetables. She fills the buckets a couple of times a week so the water drains slowly into the soil. Choose buckets with thick, firm sides so they don’t buckle, and don’t forget the drainage holes in the bottom. Bury the buckets so their tops are about 4 inches above the soil, she said, to leave room for mulch. This also makes it less likely that lizards will fall in. Most nurseries have an ample supply, Savio said, and sell them for a nominal fee, if they charge at all. [![PASADENA, CALIF. -- THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019: Yvonne Savio, 71, a master gardener, at her garden in Pasadena, Calif., on March 21, 2019. A Mathiola species also know as Stock is in the soil. Over the years Savio's soil has become a stellar example of what all soils should be---crumbly, moist, nutrient rich and full of beneficial life, from worms to root-hugging fungi. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b65afa0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1727x1151+160+0/resize/840x560!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd8%2Fe2%2Fc6d2132f30fc2d628080b05b9901%2Fla-1555970064-z9hlqswke4-snap-image)](https://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-ga-how-to-feed-your-gardening-soil-20190503-story.html) [Lifestyle](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle) ### [Must Reads: The one gardening mistake you can’t afford to make](https://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-ga-how-to-feed-your-gardening-soil-20190503-story.html) It’s warming up — at last\! May 3, 2019 The buckets make fertilizing easy. Add a shovelful of manure to the water or add liquid fertilizers, following the directions on the label. Advertisement Already planted your garden? Savio suggests digging holes about a foot from your plants, until their roots become visible, which may be just a few inches down. Stop digging when you see the roots, she said, and place the bucket as far as you can into that shallow hole. The water will still go deeper than surface watering and allow you to add fertilizers. 3 ### Watering lawns Lawns get a bum rap for requiring too much water, said Jim Baird, a turf grass specialist at UC Riverside’s [Turfgrass Research Facility.](https://turfgrass.ucr.edu/) The problem isn’t with lawns, he says. They keep dust down and neighborhoods cooler, thus reducing energy costs. The problem, Baird said, is the way people water their lawns. Think “deficit watering” rather than “optimum watering” to keep your water costs low and your lawns healthy, he said. Learn how to use your sprinkler timer, and turn off your irrigation in the cool months between November and April. When it warms up, water deeply in the early morning or evening for 10 to 15 minutes three or four days a week, depending on your lawn type (three days for warm-season grasses, such Bermuda; four days for cool-season grasses, such as fescue). If runoff is a problem, divide your watering time into three-minute cycles, Baird said. “Your lawn won’t be super lush,” he said, “but it will be good enough.” Advertisement If you’re planting or redoing your lawn, consider warm-season grasses such as Bermuda or buffalo grass, which need about 20% less water to stay green in hot, dry conditions, Baird said. Bermuda lawns aren’t as popular as fescue because they turn brown in winter, but there are many varieties of Bermuda, Baird said, and UCR’s Turfgrass Research Facility is developing new varieties that stay green during their dormant season. Regular feeding of your lawn about four times a year can help reduce its water needs as well, Baird said. Grass needs nitrogen, and one of the best fertilizers is its own clippings, he said, so instead of sending clippings to the landfill, invest in a mulching mower and stop wasting that free fertilizer. [Archives](https://www.latimes.com/archives) ### [5 ways to keep your lawn green — and still save water](https://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-lawn-care-during-a-drought-20180922-htmlstory.html) Sept. 22, 2018 Be sure your mower blades are sharpened at least once a year, because dull blades shred and stress the grass. And be sure you are mowing to the right height — 3 to 4 inches for fescue/cool-season grasses but just 1½ to 2 inches for Bermuda/warm-season grasses. Finally, check your sprinklers every year to be sure they are working properly. Fixed-spray nozzles of the same size are more efficient than rotary type sprinklers, but if you’re replacing or installing a lawn, Marco Schiavon, Baird’s colleague, thinks the most efficient system is subsurface irrigation, a series of PVC pipes with holes, spaced about a foot apart, 4 to 6 inches deep. If you see brown spots on your lawn, don’t start watering more, Shiavon said. No above-ground irrigation system provides 100% distribution, he said, so it’s better to just hand-water brown spots, or give it a good drink with an old-fashioned spot sprinkler. [Lifestyle](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle)[Climate & Environment](https://www.latimes.com/environment)[Plants](https://www.latimes.com/topic/plants) [![](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8a175be/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2063x2063+2408+845/resize/130x130!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5b%2F24%2Fe4879129449793c83d754ed1c3ba%2Fstaff-bio-jeanette-marantos-02.JPG)](https://www.latimes.com/people/jeanette-marantos) [Jeanette Marantos](https://www.latimes.com/people/jeanette-marantos) Follow Us - [X](https://x.com/jmarantos) Jeanette Marantos started writing for the Los Angeles Times in 1999, doing Money Makeovers until 2002. She returned to write for The Times’ Homicide Report in 2015 and the Saturday garden section in 2016, a yin and yang that kept her perspective in balance. In early 2020, she moved full time into Features, with a focus on all things flora. In June of 2023 she began writing the monthly [L.A. Times Plants](https://www.latimes.com/plants-newsletter-archive) newsletter, which included a calendar of upcoming plant-related events. Marantos was a SoCal native who spent more than 20 years in central Washington as a daily reporter, columnist, freelancer and mom before returning to the land of eucalyptus and sage. She died Feb. 7, 2026. ### [More plant stories](https://www.latimes.com/topic/plants) - [![Visitors to the L.A. Times Plants Booth at Festival of Books check out native plants on Sunday, April 27, 2025.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/47e7449/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3684x2456+0+154/resize/840x560!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F97%2F1a%2F0c279ead496c8cdeca9676bf6af0%2Fimg-1031-1.jpeg)](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026-04-01/visit-la-times-plants-booth-at-festival-of-books-usc-2026) ### [Stop and smell the native plants at the L.A. Times Plants booth at Festival of Books](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026-04-01/visit-la-times-plants-booth-at-festival-of-books-usc-2026) - [![GLENDALE, MARCH 15, 2026: Christopher Smee amongst California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) in his front yard. The yard features almost all California native plants in Glendale on Sunday, March 15, 2026. (Kit Karzen / For The Times)](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ca57a2f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4e%2Fb6%2F805337e94add88fff0b7ece007a1%2F1545819-fo-glendale-california-native-transformation-00241.jpg)](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026-03-30/christopher-smee-glendale-homeowner-swapped-lawn-for-native-plants-creating-a-thriving-habitat) ### [He swapped his lawn for native plants after asking, ‘What was meant to be here?’](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026-03-30/christopher-smee-glendale-homeowner-swapped-lawn-for-native-plants-creating-a-thriving-habitat) - [![LOS ANGELES-CA-JULY 2, 2024: The front yard of Chris Elwell and Kory Odell's Mid-Wilshire home is photographed on July 2, 2024. The couple turned their hilly, 10,000 square-foot yard into a habitat garden with water features and native plants. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a2b2713/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x5461+0+1/resize/840x560!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0c%2F33%2F682db91c404dbf0378734551e6e4%2F1463609-wk-0702-casa-apocalyptica-landscape-cmh-15.jpg)](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026-03-18/la-get-inspiration-for-your-home-garden-at-these-spring-socal-tours) ### [Get ideas for your home garden at these 19 spring garden tours around L.A.](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026-03-18/la-get-inspiration-for-your-home-garden-at-these-spring-socal-tours) - [![LANCASTER, CA - MARCH 12: Lorena Garcia, left, and Sal Garnica, right, from Riverside visit the California poppy bloom near the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Lancaster, CA. The State's wildflowers typically bloom from mid-March through April with the last "super bloom" with last year having poor "superbloom," due to below-average winter rainfall. (Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3cff89f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x5461+0+1/resize/840x560!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fad%2Fac%2F6f0d96a34292a70f621d19afb076%2F1545674-wk-where-to-see-wildflowers-klb-243.jpg)](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026-03-17/la-where-to-find-wildflowers-near-los-angeles) ### [‘It’s still a great year for wildflowers’: Where to catch colorful blooms around SoCal](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026-03-17/la-where-to-find-wildflowers-near-los-angeles) - [![LOS ANGELES, CA -- FEBRUARY 22, 2026: The Flower Hour is a floral design workshop + floral smoke sesh at The ArtClub in downtown. Photographed on Sunday, February 22, 2026. (Jennifer McCord / For The Times)](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1a6fa7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6016x4011+0+3/resize/840x560!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F57%2F88%2Ff7003d794c2cad6886f3dde99b1f%2F1542265-wk-flower-hour-013.jpg)](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026-03-02/flower-hour-abriana-vicioso-los-angeles) ### [Smoke a joint and get deep with flowers at this guided floral design workshop in DTLA](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026-03-02/flower-hour-abriana-vicioso-los-angeles) - [![Jeanette Marantos.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1871646/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5814x3876+203+539/resize/840x560!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4d%2F09%2Fde2842e342f09559d6ce97d9be45%2Fstaff-bio-jeanette-marantos-03.JPG)](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026-02-09/jeanette-marantos-obituary) ### [Jeanette Marantos, L.A. Times plants reporter, dies at 70](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026-02-09/jeanette-marantos-obituary) Advertisement ![A California Times publication](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/a6/d6/eea0f1094fb281dbea09e0aa79cd/art-caltimes-trademark-3x.png) [Subscribe for unlimited access](https://www.latimes.com/footersubscribe) [Site Map](https://www.latimes.com/sitemap) Follow Us - [X](https://x.com/latimes) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/latimes/) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/losangelestimes) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/latimes) - - [eNewspaper](https://enewspaper.latimes.com/) - [Find/Post Jobs](https://jobs.latimes.com/) - [Place an Ad](https://placeanad.latimes.com/) - [Media Kit: Why the L.A. Times?](https://mediakit.latimes.com/) - [Invest Now: Own a Part of History](https://join.latimes.com/) - MORE FROM THE L.A. 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Lawns get a bum rap for requiring too much water, said Jim Baird, a turf grass specialist at UC Riverside’s [Turfgrass Research Facility.](https://turfgrass.ucr.edu/) The problem isn’t with lawns, he says. They keep dust down and neighborhoods cooler, thus reducing energy costs. The problem, Baird said, is the way people water their lawns. Think “deficit watering” rather than “optimum watering” to keep your water costs low and your lawns healthy, he said. Learn how to use your sprinkler timer, and turn off your irrigation in the cool months between November and April. When it warms up, water deeply in the early morning or evening for 10 to 15 minutes three or four days a week, depending on your lawn type (three days for warm-season grasses, such Bermuda; four days for cool-season grasses, such as fescue). If runoff is a problem, divide your watering time into three-minute cycles, Baird said. “Your lawn won’t be super lush,” he said, “but it will be good enough.” If you’re planting or redoing your lawn, consider warm-season grasses such as Bermuda or buffalo grass, which need about 20% less water to stay green in hot, dry conditions, Baird said. Bermuda lawns aren’t as popular as fescue because they turn brown in winter, but there are many varieties of Bermuda, Baird said, and UCR’s Turfgrass Research Facility is developing new varieties that stay green during their dormant season. Regular feeding of your lawn about four times a year can help reduce its water needs as well, Baird said. Grass needs nitrogen, and one of the best fertilizers is its own clippings, he said, so instead of sending clippings to the landfill, invest in a mulching mower and stop wasting that free fertilizer. Be sure your mower blades are sharpened at least once a year, because dull blades shred and stress the grass. And be sure you are mowing to the right height — 3 to 4 inches for fescue/cool-season grasses but just 1½ to 2 inches for Bermuda/warm-season grasses. Finally, check your sprinklers every year to be sure they are working properly. Fixed-spray nozzles of the same size are more efficient than rotary type sprinklers, but if you’re replacing or installing a lawn, Marco Schiavon, Baird’s colleague, thinks the most efficient system is subsurface irrigation, a series of PVC pipes with holes, spaced about a foot apart, 4 to 6 inches deep. If you see brown spots on your lawn, don’t start watering more, Shiavon said. No above-ground irrigation system provides 100% distribution, he said, so it’s better to just hand-water brown spots, or give it a good drink with an old-fashioned spot sprinkler.

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