SPRING WATERING TIPS

It is a good idea to place your newly delivered plants on the north or east side in the shade if they are not going to be planted right away. This will prevent them from drying out during the daytime.

Water all plant material as soon as they are delivered. Use a hose with No nozzle or sprinkler attached - just the end of the hose works best. Water the roots, not the tops. The foliage doesn't need the water, the roots do. Water them daily if they are not being planted immediately.

BALLED & BURLAPPED (B&B) PLANT MATERIAL

Water upon delivery. B&B plants only take water from the ball (at the start) and not the soil they have been planted into. B&B plants will need to be watered daily for the first week or so. Water B&B plants enough each day to saturate the root ball, but Not the soils you have planted them into. Then the roots will begin to grow through the burlap and into your soil, you can ease up on the frequency. You should be able to actually see when the plants need water as they will look wilted. The second week, you will probably need to water 3-5 times and after that, probably once a week. Adjust your watering habits depending upon the weather and your soil type (For sandy or lighter soils, more water - for heavy clay soils - don't over water).

CONTAINER GROWN PLANT MATERIAL 

Water upon delivery. Container grown plants are grown in a soil-less media which is designed to drain water as best as possible. For that reason, containerized plants will need water every day for the first week or so. Water container plants enough each day to saturate the root mass, but Not necessarily the soil around the root mass. Again, if sandy or lighter soils you can water them more. After the first week or two, the roots will have started to grow into the soil you have planted them into and you can ease up on the frequency. For the second week, maybe water 3-5 times and the third week, probably once a week. Adjust your watering with the weather (Hotter and drier - water more, and if it rains an inch or more - you can skip one or two).

BARE ROOT PLANT MATERIAL

The roots of all bare root material late in the season (or any time of the year) should be soaked in water overnight (if at all possible) before planting. (If soaking overnight isn't possible, at least soak the roots while you are installing them.) Immediately after planting, soak the soil around each bare root plant to get rid of any air pockets. Water the plants again the next day, and fill in around any plants where the soil has sunken. Pruning is also important and best done by thinning out any small or broken branches and reducing the number of stems that are on the plant. Bare-root plant material may need up to 6 weeks to properly leaf out. Water them as needed one to three times a week depending on the weather and the soil you have.

ESTABLISHED PLANTS

After the first growing season, most plants will need little additional water. If supplemental watering is needed, avoid doing it frequently and light. It is better to soak the ground thoroughly so the water soaks in. It's usually not necessary to water more than once a week using this method. Plants in mulched beds will require less watering than ones in unmulched areas. Also, plants in shade, such as on the north or east side of the house, will require less water than ones in sun.