Watering is the single most important factor in a healthy landscape. Water travels to the roots of plants picking up nutrients along the way. Without water, plants languish and become drastically stressed, resulting in disease and insect infestation.
Soaker Hoses
The best, most cost effective way to water is to set up soaker hoses in your landscape beds. Running these soft, spongy hoses around the root zone of each plant (double looping for larger plants) is effective at slowly soaking the soil while minimizing water run off and evaporation.
Duration
Water for around an hour a day during hot stretches in the summer depending on your soil. Heavy clay soils tend to hold moisture longer than sandy ones, so judge accordingly. Make sure to run a six foot section of regular garden hose from your spigot to the soaker, as installing a soaker hose directly to the spigot can cause water to get dangerously close to the foundation.
Timers
Automatic timers are also available for soaker hose systems. This model is available from Hope Depot online. http://tinyurl.com/nzgska
Making Life Easier
Before setting up the soaker hoses, unravel them (make sure the washers don't come out; they are important), stretch the hoses with a partner to release any "memory". This makes laying them much easier.
You may need to pin the soakers in place. Coat hangers or thick wire (utility markout flags are ideal) are great for holding the hose in place as your winding them through your beds.
Slopes
Water pressure decreases with distance and elevation. Make sure to account for these factors as a single spigot probably wont have the pressure to make it a great distance.
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