JUST ADD WATER
TOO WET? TOO DRY?
When you landscape, keep in mind that water is essential to any plant's development. Without proper sun, soil, and fertilizer your plants will not flourish but can survive. Without the correct amount of water, your plants can die.
Many people over-water during the first few days after installing a new plant and the result of this flood of water is that the plant can’t breathe and may drown. If you do not water enough, the plant will wilt and can die of thirst. How much and how often should a person water their plants is the question. To answer this question you must consider the plant type and environmental conditions.
The type of soil you are watering is an important consideration. You need to check for soil drainage to see what type of soil you are working with and how the water behaves in it. You should dig a two-foot hole and fill it with water. Excellent drainage is when the water drains away in an hour or two. If the water drains in eight hours, you can consider the drainage as adequate. If the water is still in the hole after eight hours, you have a drainage problem that can damage or kill new plants. See our information sheet on planting your plants for ideas to correct this problem.
1. Check to see if the area is in all sun, all shade, or a little of each. The north side of your home (shade) and east side do not require as much water in comparison to the south (sun) or west side of your home.
2. Take note of the leaf type. Deciduous plants with soft leaves such as barberry, hydrangeas, and beech trees, need more water than evergreen plants with needles such as yews and pines.
3. Note how exposed the area is to wind. This will show you how fast water will evaporate.
4. Consider the amount of natural rain. One inch of rain takes care of most plants. One-half inch of rain will sustain the plants for a while. Rain amounts under a half-inch should not change your watering schedule.
5. Think about how long the plants have been established in their final home to determine how you adjust your watering. The first year, consider them in intensive care with intervenes feeding. The second year they would be in intermediate care. From that time on, do your regular checkups based on information given in 1 through 5.
General guidelines can be used to ensure proper water.
1. Water your plants deeply in the morning.
2. Apply water in a way that the soil will absorb it without runoff.
3. Watering new small plants two or three times week will usually be adequate.
4. Water large plants one or two times a week. The best way to water large plants is to let the hose drip until the root ball is saturated with no runoff. For a large tree, this may take 20 minutes or more.
5. As the roots expand to chase the moisture, good root generation will be encouraged.
6. Mulching is the best way to conserve water!
SPRINKLERS
Observation is the way to see if there is runoff or the water is pooling. Avoid either runoff or pooling as you take into consideration 1 through 6.
Use common sense, plus the guidelines given, and your plants will not die in a swamp or a desert.