When using automatic timers for the sprinklers on your lawn, check to see that the sprinklers are watering the lawn and not the sidewalk or the gutter.  The last time I checked, neither of these grow. I walk my dog every morning and see my neighbors sprinklers running excessively, so much so that the water goes right down sidewalk and into the gutter.  This is a very wasteful use of our natural resources.  Have your handyman or your gardener check your sprinkler system to make sure that it is watering the area that needs to be watered.  Don't get me wrong, automatic sprinklers are a great thing, but we tend to water our lawns and landscaping too much. Give your landscaping a chance to dry out.  Set your timers to skip a day or two. In the Winter months, when it is not as hot and the days are shorter, your plants do not need as much water. Remember your plants are in a dormant state in the Winter.  This is a good time to reduce the amount of water that we use on our outside landscaping.  www.bewaterwise.com