How Do I Water My New Shrub?
Unlike a newly planted seed that doesn’t have a well-formed root system, shrubs do have a fair amount of roots. However, newly planted shrubs still need hand-watering until these roots grow out into the soil surrounding the planting hole.
How Often to Water After Planting?
The first three months require frequent watering, and then you can scale back until the roots are established. Once the shrub’s root system is robust, there isn’t a need to water plants by hand unless you live in a climate with little rainfall.
- The first one to two weeks after planting, water your new shrub daily.
- Weeks three through 12, water the shrub every two to three days.
- After 12 weeks, water your shrub weekly until its roots are established.
Most shrubs are considered established after one to two years when the roots grow out to equal the plant’s above-ground canopy spread.
How Much Water to Apply?
At each watering, you should apply a volume of water equivalent to about one-fourth or one-third of the volume of the pot the shrub was in at the nursery or store. As the roots grow into the surrounding soil and spread, this volume needs to be increased.
Water Slowly and Deeply
The goal of watering your new shrub is to soak the entire root zone, losing as little water as possible to runoff. Your intent isn’t only to water the first few inches of soil; the roots live much deeper. Slowly trickle the water around the base of the plant, allowing it to infiltrate and percolate deep down into the ground gradually.
Keep Water Off the Foliage
Be careful to water the soil directly around the base of your shrub. A great way to do this is by using a soaker hose or drip irrigation. Keeping moisture off of the leaves helps minimize disease problems and improves water-use efficiency. When water is applied to the ground, less moisture is lost to evaporation.
Improve Soil Moisture Retention
Spread three inches of organic mulch on the soil around the trunk of your shrub, fanning it out a couple of feet regardless of the canopy size. Be careful to keep the mulch from touching the bark directly. The mulch helps to keep the soil cooler and, in turn, minimizes evaporation, so the soil retains more moisture for longer. You can use bark chips, shredded bark, pine needles, or even straw.
What Time of Day Should I Water?
The best time to water your new shrub is earlier in the morning after the sun comes up but before the temperature begins to climb. Watering early gives the plant a reservoir of moisture to draw from during the warmest part of the day. It also helps minimize soil fungal diseases.