Watering Instructions and Techniques

WATERING NEWLY TRANSPLANTED PLANTS

  • Water deeply at planting.
  • Check daily the first week, using your finger, a moisture meter or a trowel, about an inch or two under the mulch. Water when dry about 1” below the surface.
  • In subsequent weeks the first year, check weekly, ensuring the plant receives 1” a week of water from either you or Mother Nature. You may need to water twice a week (or more) in times of drought.
  • Watering slowly, deeply and infrequently builds a healthy, resilient root system.

WATERING TRICKS AND TIPS

  • Too much or too little water can look the same. Check the soil first, before watering.
  • Pay attention to how the water interacts with the soil when applied. If it soaks in immediately, keep watering until it puddles. Allow it to puddle five or so times. If water immediately puddles, the soil is saturated and doesn’t need more at the moment.
  • Water in the morning, if possible, so water can soak in throughout the day and leaves dry out, preventing fungal problems.
  • Water the roots, not the leaves so plants benefit the most and stay healthy.
  • Mulching about 2” around plants helps keep soil moist. Do not mulch the immediate base of plants so crowns do not rot.
  • Plants do better with longer, less frequent waterings. If using a sprinkler, use a container to measure how much water the area is receiving. Best results occur with 1” per week.
  • Sometimes a soaker hose is a good solution. Place the hose under any much around the root zones of plants. Let it run at least an hour. This gets water right to the roots and it doesn’t evaporate as much as with conventional sprinklers.
  • If you have an automatic sprinkler system, check the settings. Once a week is best for perennials, shrubs and trees instead of every day.