Watering is an ongoing requirement for properly maintaining your investment in landscaping. In residential landscape design, numerous varieties of plant materials are placed in close proximity to one another in order to create a pleasing look. This creates moderate root competition meaning that additional moisture is required both for initial development and seasonally throughout the life of your new landscape.
- Deciduous Trees. Most trees we plant have large root balls and need a good soaking once every 4 days during summer months, and once every 7 to 10 days during spring and fall months. Lay the end of a garden hose near the base of the tree and let the water run at a trickle for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Evergreen Trees. Evergreen have a lower water transpiration (use) rate than deciduous varieties do. With the Exception of Hemlock (which should be watered per the deciduous instructions above for the first two years in the landscape), evergreen only need additional moisture about once a week for establishment. Water can be applied in the same trickle method as mentioned above and care must be taken to ensure you do not ‘over water’ your evergreen specimens while applying additional moisture to your deciduous pieces.
- Deciduous Shrubs. Smaller sized shrubs, 12-36”, need frequent watering, every 2 to 3 days in the summer, especially those planted in full sun. Water larger sized shrubs on a 3 to 4 day schedule. Wilting leaves are most likely telling you it’s dry, but check the soil before watering, sometimes wilting leaves can indicate too much water.
- Evergreen Shrubs. Again, evergreens have a slower transpiration rate, but you are still maintaining a smaller root mass for establishment. Typically a 4-5 day cycle for watering evergreen shrubs is ideal.
- Perennials and Groundcovers. These plants will require the most frequent watering because of their shallow root system. Water every 1 to 3 days during the summer months and every 5 to 7 days in the spring and fall.
- Sodded Lawns. Newly laid sod needs frequent watering. Under normal conditions, you will need to water every day for the first 14 days. Then every other day for the next three weeks. After the sod has become established and well rooted, a thorough soaking of the lawn twice a week should be sufficient. It is important to water based on inches vs. time. In its first 4 weeks sodded lawns should receive 3 inches of water per week. Place a pan on your lawn when watering to help measure the amount of water your watering method delivers. NOTE: It is very important to carefully place your sprinkler for lawn establishment. Overspray into landscape beds can drown your newly installed landscape as lawns areas require enough water during establishment to kill new landscape plantings in just a couple of weeks.
- Seeded Lawns. Newly laid sod needs frequent watering. Under normal conditions, you will need to water every day for the first 14 days. Then every other day for the next three weeks. After the sod has become established and well rooted, a thorough soaking of the lawn twice a week should be sufficient. It is important to water based on inches vs. time. In its first 4 weeks sodded lawns should receive 3 inches of water per week. Place a pan on your lawn when watering to help measure the amount of water your watering method delivers.
- Annual Flowers. Seasonal flower plantings and decorative Urn arrangement require additional moisture pretty much daily for establishment. Once annuals installed into landscape beds establish they will require varying amounts of additional moisture depending on the variety. Urns will require moisture on a daily basis throughout their life cycle, and as they mature and near the later part of the season water demand will actually increase with a large root population in a small physical space that can only hold so much moisture.
Remember, watering trees, shrubs, perennials, groundcovers, various lawn types, and annual flowers is crucial at all times. However it’s especially important in the early stages of their growth if you want to ensure a strong and healthy establishment of your investment in landscaping.