Temperatures and falling and so are the leaves. But there is still plenty of time to get in the garden before the first …
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How to Care for Newly Planted Trees and Shrubs
You’ve just spruced up your landscaping with new trees and shrubs and things are looking great! But after a few weeks, you start to notice droopy, or browning leaves. This could be an indicator that your plants aren’t receiving enough water. Don’t worry, if you act quickly they can recover just fine.
Proper watering is the key to success for your landscape and garden beds. Newly planted trees and shrubs will need more frequent watering that first year until their roots are well established. Here are a few tips to help those plants thrive that first year.
1. Once your plants are in the ground, create a basin at the base of the plant with soil. This will help funnel water directly over the root system. It can also hold excess water so it can slowly release into the soil as it dries out.
2. Cover the area with a layer of mulch. This helps retain soil moisture, promotes root growth, prevents weeds and slows evaporation.
3. Find the most reliable watering method for you.
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- Soaker Hose-A soaker hose is the most hands off option. These hoses go around the base of the plants and are hidden below a layer of mulch. A soaker hose will allow water to slowly seep into the root system directly. They can be set on a timer so you know your plants are getting enough water. Shop a selection of soaker hoses online
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- Hose and Wand-A watering wand or adjustable hose nozzle are a manual option for watering. These allow you to adjust the flow of the water to a steady spray, and monitor how much water is being delivered to your plants. You want to fill the basin at the base of the plant with water (usually 45 seconds to a minute per plant), allow it to soak in, and then re-water for another 30 seconds per plant.
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- Sprinklers-While sprinklers are a great, convenient option for keeping your garden and lawn lush all season, they may not be the best solution for watering new plants. First, you will need to determine how much water is being delivered to each plant with the sprinkler. You can place a shallow container or tin can at the base of your plants, run your sprinkler for the normal amount of time, and then measure how much water is in the container. If there is less than a half-inch of water, you will either increase the amount of time you water that zone, or have an alternative watering method for the first year. Keep in mind, it is the base of the plants that need to be getting the most water, not the foliage. Consider adjusting your sprinkler heads to focus on the base of the plants.
4. Water 2-4x per week depending on the weather. If there is a lot of rain in the forecast, you can water a bit less. But if it is hot, your plants may need a drink daily.
You can slow down on watering once your plants have been established for a year or more. Regular watering is considered to be at least an inch of water a week.
English Gardens experts are always here to help. For a more plant care questions, visit one of our English Gardens location and speak with an expert.
Watch our video: Watering Newly Planted Trees and Shrubs
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