Tree Watering

Tree Watering Guide Water using a garden hose with no nozzle. First Year/Newly Planted: 

• 2 to 3 times a week
• Do not water when the ground is frozen
• If ground thaws in winter time, water once a month until the ground freezes again

Year 2 and 3:

• During periods of dry/drought conditions, it is best to water plants once every 2 weeks

General Notes:

• Water in the early morning or late afternoon
• Do not water during the middle of the day or right before nightfall
• Plants need to dry off before going into night to prevent the growth of mildew
• Using your fingers, pull back the mulch and check the soil
• Soil should not be soaking wet but more on the dry side to allow oxygen exchange at the root system
• A slow, deep water is more beneficial than a quick, dumping water

Large Trees:

• Duration: 5-10 minutes and up to 60 minutes if root ball is very dry (dig down 4-6 inches deep to determine moisture content of the root ball)
• With the water speed being a trickle, the hose should be laid next to each plant, on the high side of the slope with no nozzle

Smaller Trees and Shrubs:

• 2-5 minutes and up to 30 minutes if the root ball is very dry (dig down 2-4 inches deep to determine moisture content of the root ball)
• With the water speed being a trickle, the hose should be laid next to each plant, on the high side of the slope with no nozzle

Perennials and Grasses:

• Up to 1 minute
• With the water speed being a trickle, the hose should be laid next to each plant, on the high side of the slope with no nozzle

Soaker Hose System: 

• 2 to 3 times a week for 30 minutes
• Be sure to check soil moisture with your fingers to make sure that the soil is getting the adequate amount of water
• If too wet, reduce watering

*It is not suggested to use an overhead sprinkler system to water your landscape plants (i.e. lawn sprinklers or rotating sprinklers). These systems lead to growth of disease and over all do not get adequate water to the plants.