Watering Tips

How To Water

It is important that moisture penetrates to the roots of your plants.  Even with adequate rainfall, it still is necessary to hand water the plants. If the rain was one inch or less and your landscape plantings are mulched with a decorative rock and black plastic, watering them is absolutely essential to prevent them from dying. 

• Individually hand water each tree, shrub or small plant, giving it a long, deep drink with a hose. Watering with a lawn irrigation system can cause problems by either keeping the plants too wet, or not watering deep enough.
• Using a hose with water running at low pressure, place it in the center of the plant. Watch that the water penetrates the root zone immediately around the plant, and does not run off its surface without penetrating the soil. Applying the water directly to the root area at a slow rate ensures adequate moisture to the roots.
• The soil in the soil ball will dry out more quickly than the loose soil around it, so when you check for moisture be sure to check the soil ball directly. Be aware that plants can be overwatered, too, especially where the native soil is poor. To check for overwatering poke your finger down the side of the soil ball to feel how wet or dry it is.

Shrub and Tree Watering
Summer - For the first three weeks after planting, water every second or third day, and once a week through summer thereafter. If the weather is very hot, windy and dry increase the frequency to prevent wilt, particularly on small, tender plants or lawns.
Fall - Discontinue watering when there is at least one inch of rainfall per week, otherwise hand water about once a week
Late Fall to Winter - If there is inadequate rainfall, water the plants every 2 weeks until frost. When the tree leaves drop, make a final application of water just before the ground freezes.
Subsequent spring and summer - Water trees and shrubs deeply every couple of weeks, as weather
dictates.

Lawn Watering
Sodded lawns require daily watering for 3 weeks after installation, except in fall when once every 2 days is adequate. Thoroughly soak the sod each time. After about four weeks, water the established sod only once per week, applying one inch of water.

Seeded lawns require one inch of water daily, until all the grass has germinated. If adequate rainfall occurs to sufficiently moisten the top inch of soil, there is no need to water that day. When the lawn is two inches high, reduce the watering to one inch of water per week, or as is needed to maintain actively growing, green grass.
 
Established Lawn Watering
Professional sources strongly recommend watering lawns that have gone dormant (brown). Applying about 1/2" of water every couple of weeks will not 'green up' the turf, but it will prevent dessication of the plant crown. Additionally, stay off dormant turf as much as possible, and plan for a fall aeration to enhance the lawn recovery. Fertilizers, seed and water are all more effective on a lawn that has been core aerated.
 
Lawn Mowing—Seeded or Sodded
Begin mowing your lawn as soon as it reaches 2”-3” tall. Set your lawn mower at its highest setting to avoid scalping the new lawn, and lower it a notch with subsequent mowings. It may be necessary to discontinue watering for 24 hours to allow the soil to dry to mow your lawn.
 
Fertilizing Your Landscape
Most plants will respond to a liquid fertilizer while they are being established.  Apply Miracle-Gro once every 3 weeks while you are watering the plants to replace the nutrients lost due to heavy watering.
 
Plants Which Do Not Tolerate Overwatering
Hemlock, Juniper, Spruce, and Yew
 
Plants Which Dry Out Quickly
Barberry, Dogwood, , Potentilla, and Spirea. 
 
Other Tips

• Smaller plants like annuals and perennials dry out more quickly. Be sure to watch and water regularly.
• Container gardens will need watering every day.
• Adequately watered sod should spring back when trampled. If it looks limp or dull, it’s time to water!