Knowing how to water the plants you’ve just carefully picked out and planted in your garden is an important skill to ensure having a successful garden. Whether you’re vacationing at home or traveling out of town, we have products that will help make your summer more enjoyable.

Here are a few tips on how to water your plants:

Watering Newly Planted Trees, Shrubs and Perennials
New plants will need regular watering for at least the first year they are planted. Perennials, shrubs and trees concentrate their roots in the top 12 inches of soil. How much and how often will vary based on the soil type, time of year, air temperature and amount of rain fall per week. Generally, new plants should be watered two to four times a week in the spring, and as often as every day in the summer when it gets hot. Once the trees turn color in the fall, water new plants once a week until the ground freezes. How much water depends on the pot size of the root ball.

Pot Size                        Amount of Water
#1 to #2                     At least 1 gallon
#3 to #6                     Two to 3 gallons
#7 to #10                   Three to 4 gallons
#12 to #16                  Five gallons
#20 and larger              Five to 10 gallons

Focus on the Root Zone
It’s the roots that need access to water, not the leaves. Wetting the foliage wastes water and can promote the spread of disease.

Watering Your Annuals
While perennials, trees and shrubs concentrate their roots in the top 12 inches of soil, both lawns and annuals concentrate their roots in the top six inches of soil. When an annual starts to dry out, the leaves get droopy and wilt. The plant may also lose its bright green color and start to look a little drab. Your goal is to water before a plant reaches that point, but the plant will tell you when it needs water more often.

Watering the Right Way
Plants prefer to be soaked slowly. Just think, the slower you apply water, the better the soil and the plant can absorb the water. Imagine trying to drink a glass of water in one big gulp. It would be messy and you’d probably still be thirsty if you only got one gulp. That’s how a plant feels. 

To water properly, run the hose at less than half pressure near the base or stem of the plant. Allow the hose to run until the water puddles around the plant and takes more than 10 seconds to drain.

The best time to water is always early morning before it gets too hot and the water evaporates. Plants are more receptive to water during the morning dew and the heat throughout the day will help evaporate what water is left. Water that sits on the leaves or around the plant too long can lead to disease.

The frequency in which you water your plants depends on several factors, such as soil type, sun exposure, ambient temperature, amount of rain fall, and of course, the type of plant. The best advice in this case is to keep the tags of these plants for this information.

Watering when it Rains
Because plants absorb water through their roots and not their foliage, rain rarely supplies sufficient water to your plants. Particularly during the hot, dry summer, your plants need more water. Always the best answer to determine whether or not your plant needs water is to use your finger to check the soil. Water when the soil is dry about an inch down.

Over or Under Watering?
If it’s not fall, leaves that turn yellow are one of the immediate signs of stress, and it’s caused mostly under watering, but over watering may also cause yellow leaves.  Use your finger to check what the plant needs.  Don’t just assume the plant needs water and make the fatal mistake of watering the plants.

When you overwater your plants, the signs are not immediate since over watering slowly causes root rot which leads to the plant not being able to take up water anymore, but damage usually starts at the tip. To fix this, dig up the plant and remove any rotted roots from the root ball then replant with fresh soil and bio-tone plant starter fertilizer. Then, get back on track by always testing the soil with your finger before watering.

When you underwater your plants, the leaves become dry and crunchy. Most plants turn yellow to brown as it shows the stress of not enough water. If the plant’s watering needs have been neglected, do not try to save it by over watering.  Give it some water and slowly get it back on track using the finger test.

Be sure to remove any distressed leaves.   This will encourage new growth and make the plant look much better. Giving plants a trim is another good way for them to recover, they will soon flush out new leaves in a couple weeks.

Pay attention to your plants and the soil, and you’ll learn when a plant needs water and when it has enough.  Master this technique and you’ll have a beautiful garden!

Watering Potted Plants
Test the soil in pots frequently to determine their moisture content: Insert your finger ½ to 1 inch deep into the soil; if the soil feels dry below the soil surface, your plant needs water, or lift up the pot. If it feels too light, the plant needs water; make sure that you have a good idea of how much the pot should weight when the soil is good and moist.

Water containers frequently, even daily, if necessary. An amendment, such as Soil Moist, combined with the planting mix will help pots retain moisture.

Water them thoroughly. Fill the pot to its brim, then fill it again until you see water draining out the bottom.

If the soil has come away from the sides of the pot you will need to dunk the pot in water until it fully absorbs all the water it can and the soil swells back to the sides.

If your plant is excessively dry, give it a good watering from above, then place it in a basin so that it can drink the water from the bottom up, absorbing as much as possible. If the plant seems to be drying out too quickly between waterings, it may need to be replanted in a larger pot.

Watering Tools

Radius Butterfly Nozzle Take full control over watering with this Radius Garden Butterfly 2-in-1 Nozzle and Sprinkler. Choose a hands-on approach with seven adjustable hand-spray patterns and thumb-operated flow control. Or, flip open the wings, put in on the ground, and set it to one of two sprinkler patterns and shower up to 870 square feet of your yard.

Dramm 9 Pattern Nozzle This heavy-duty spray gun nozzle has an ergonomic insulated grip and 9 quick-change spray patterns – perfect for any watering project.

50’ Pocket Hose Top Brass The new and improved version of the Pocket Hose, the hose that grows! Stronger than ever, Top Brass has connector protectors on both ends to prevent damage and leaks. Available in all stores.

Gardena Spray Nozzles, Sprinklers, Wands and Quick Connect Accessories Gardena makes lightweight wands that are ideally suited for watering high and hard to reach spots in your garden.