Deep and Penetrating Watering

The key to proper watering of any plant is SLOW, DEEP, AND PENETRATING watering. For optimal results, the water must penetrate far below the ground’s surface and into the bottom of the root ball. The most effective method for effective watering is using a drip line throughout the growing season.

Avoid Hand Spraying

Hand spraying your trees and shrubs is highly inefficient and a waste of time. Hand spraying does not deliver enough water to keep trees and shrubs adequately hydrated because people tend to get impatient and move from plant to plant before the water penetrates deeply into the soil.

Sprinklers and Rain Do Not Count

Don’t expect running your sprinklers or an occasional rain to provide adequate water to keep your trees and shrubs alive. Lawn sprinklers are great for lawns because grass tends to have shallow root systems unlike trees and shrubs, which require a deep and penetrating water to reach roots that extend well below the soil line.

1. First Watering

Mix Fertilome Root Stimulator with water and apply to your newly planted tree or shrub immediately. Follow the directions on the bottle. Root stimulator reduces transplant shock (yellowing, wilting, and dropping of leaves and needles). You can apply the root stimulator several times during the first few months after planting.

4. Winter Watering

Your trees and shrubs need care during the winter—especially conifers (evergreens) because they loose water through their needles and leaves. At least once a month, when the temperature is above freezing and weather conditions dry, water using the guidelines above. To help prevent water loss in conifers, apply an anti-desiccant such as Wilt-Pruf.

2. Watering for the Next 60 Days

Following planting, water shrubs with 1-2 gallons and trees with 2-4 gallons of water each day depending on size—the bigger the plant, the more water—each day for the first 30 days. In the second month following planting, you may cut back watering to every other day, but with the same relative amounts of water.

5. Use a Drip Line

By far the most efficient way to water your trees and shrubs is to use a drip line. A drip line delivers a precise amount of water to trees and plants on a schedule that you control. Drip lines are very easy to set up and include four basic parts: a timer, plastic tubing, emitters that control water flow, and “spaghetti” line, which runs from the emitter directly to the tree or shrub.

3. Watering the Rest of the Year

Shrubs should get 1-2 gallons of water and trees 10 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter (measured 4” off the ground) 2-3 times/week. Thus, a tree with a 3” diameter would get 30 gallons of water at each watering. Drought tolerant trees/shrubs can be watered less often but keeping the amount the same.

6. Hose and Bucket Methods

Although much less efficient than a drip line, two other methods are often used. Turn on your hose to a trickle and then move it from plant to plant every 20-40 minutes depending tree/shrub size. Or, drill a 1/8” hole in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket, and set it close to the tree and shrub. Fill the bucket to the desired level; the water will slowly leak into the ground around the tree or shrub.