Watering Information:
Potted Trees and Shrubs:
- Water plants thoroughly at time of planting. Check the plants and soil conditions every 2-3 days for moisture (more often during hot weather). Frequency and amount of water depends on your site conditions (soil and drainage) and the weather. Water only when the soil feels dry to the touch 5cm (2") into the root zone. Remember a plant can be over-watered as well.
- Plant roots also need oxygen. Keeping the soil lightly cultivated provides aeration and weed control.
- Plants grown in plastic pots tend to dry out more quickly than those grown in wire baskets, therefore, more frequent monitoring and watering may be necessary to avoid stress. It takes several weeks for roots to extend beyond the original soil ball, so be sure to check this area as it often dries out faster than surrounding garden soil.
- Slow & deep watering encourages a deep root system and your plant will become more drought tolerant.
- Drainage is ESSENTIAL: Divert downspouts, sump pump discharge and excessive water away from planting area.
- Continue this watering routine until the plant is well established and growing.
Watering Schedule for Trees in Wire Baskets:
- Water well at time of planting, to thoroughly soak the root ball and settle the back-filled soil.
- Check the soil moisture around the base of the tree once a week. Keep the soil free of weeds, cultivating lightly once or twice per month. Do not apply mulch around the base of the tree for the first year after planting to allow for evaporation and so that you can monitor the soil conditions easily on a weekly basis.
- If the soil is dry to the touch in the top 2" to 4" of the root zone, give the tree a slow, thorough soaking. This means letting the hose run continuously for about 10 minutes or applying at least 20 gallons slowly, allowing the water to penetrate into the root ball.
- Once the tree is in leaf and the weather is continuously warm, the tree can generally use a once weekly watering as described above (e.g months of June, July, August), providing there is adequate drainage. (Do not water if the soil is saturated or there is poor drainage). Continue to check on a weekly basis.
- If the weather remains cool and wet for an extended period (that is, more than a week), a weekly watering may be skipped. However, always continue to check on a weekly basis during the growing season. Rainfall is not always sufficient or dependable in the first season for proper root development.
- You should not have to water more than once a week; but when you do water, do so slowly and make sure water penetrates the root ball thoroughly (12-18" deep).
- During September and October the watering can be reduced to an average of twice a month but continue to monitor the soil conditions weekly.
- Overwatering will result in stress as severe as underwatering and symptoms of overwatering are almost identical to underwatering making it hard to tell the cause of stress/death. Remember: a SLOW & DEEP watering less often is usually better for trees/plants than shallow watering more frequently.
Growing for the Life of the Landscape
