Basic Watering Rule (BWR)
Always check the soil moisture around the base of the plant (under the mulch) prior to watering. If the top 1" of the soil feels wet, there is no need to water.
First growing season (installation)
Trees: Leave hose at the base of the tree and turn water flow on to equal the width of a pencil. Leave on tree for 20-30 minutes. Repeat every 7-10 days during summer months. Newly planted trees may require more if it is hot and dry. (See BWR)
Shrubs: Using a watering wand, hold water on each plant for a count of 20 seconds, repeat if necessary (i.e. extreme dryness, slope which causes water to run off, etc.). Check shrubs every 4 or 5 days during summer months. (See BWR)
Perennials (1 gallon, 6" & QT size): Same care as shrubs-may need watered every other day. (See BWR)
Perennials (3-4” pots): Check these EVERY day during hot, dry weather and less frequently once weather cools down. Hold water on plants and count to 10, repeat if necessary. (See BWR)
Next spring and beyond
Most plants will need no additional watering but will benefit from a deep soaking (as described above for the first growing season) after a few weeks of dry weather.
Additional Instructions
- Give your trees and shrubs one last deep soaking around Thanksgiving to help them overwinter.
- Treat your evergreens, rhododendrons, boxwoods and similar plants with Wilt Pruf ® around Thanksgiving. This will help prevent moisture loss (which causes browning / yellowing needles).
Irrigation systems
If you have an irrigation system installed in your landscape, monitor the watering time and frequency closely. Try to run it at the minimal amount of time so your landscape plants are not over-watered. Irrigation systems should be set to provide 1” of water per zone, once per week. Any irrigation above and beyond this rate endangers your landscape plants and voids the warranty.
Plants that need to dry out between watering
Rhododendrons, Russian Cypress, Junipers, Evergreen Trees, Sedum. Never water if soil is already moist.
Plants to keep moist
Endless Summer Hydrangea (when blooming), Summersweet, Itea
