Watering New Plants

With the long holiday weekend in May just behind us, many homeowners have finished or are in the process of planting their gardens for the season. Whether you've paid a landscaper to plant your gardens or you did it yourself, there's been a significant investment in plants and labour. You want this investment to not only survive the season, but thrive. You've chosen plants that will grow tall or spread, flower, or produce fruit or vegetables, and to do that, those plants need to be well watered. Otherwise, your plants won't perform the way you want.

New additions to the garden need some extra love. New plants have limited root systems so they need constant watering until they get established. Even drought-tolerant plants need a good start with plenty of water after planting.

Going forward, remember that bedding plants or small plants have shallow roots so they will need more frequent watering. Because the roots for these plants remain in the top few inches of soil, keeping that top layer of soil moist over the hot weeks ahead is important. Mulch will help keep moisture in the soil longer saving some water.

Review Good Watering Practises

• Water in the morning to avoid lost moisture to evaporation during the heat of the day
• Try to avoid watering foliage and leaves, water at the base of the plant as much as possible
• Plants with deeper root systems need deep watering, so less frequent watering but longer watering sessions so moisture penetrates deeper into the soil
• Don't water faster than the ground can absorb the moisture, reducing run off

How Much Water And How Often?

When only concerned with the moisture in top layer of soil, poking your finger into the dirt or digging with a small hand trowel should be sufficient investigation. However, if you're watering lawns, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation that needs deep watering, this can be difficult. Add to this guessing game how windy it is, how much clay is in your soil, how much shade the plant receives, and the type of plants. Nutri-Lawn Ottawa's inground irrigation systems take the guess work out of watering. Our sprinkler systems measure the moisture in the soil and the amount of recent rainfall, so your irrigation system knows precisely how much additional water your lawn and larger plants require for deep watering to ensure optimal root growth and plant performance.

Watering Trees And Shrubs

How much do you water new trees and shrubs? Trees and shrubs are available for purchase in a variety of shapes and sizes, so there isn't a one size fits all answer. Your goal with either a tree or shrub is to ensure the entire root ball stays moist initially, you don't want to water only the first couple of inches of soil. So, take a look at the size of the root ball. Note how deep you have to dig in order to fully submerge the root ball. Standing over the new planting with a hose for ten minutes likely isn't going to be sufficient. You'll need to water long enough so that the water penetrates deep into the soil without pooling on the surface.

Nutri-Lawn Ottawa's in ground irrigation systems are installed in zones, and each zone is individually programmed to meet the needs of the plants it waters. Set the time and forget about it for the summer while enjoying a lush garden and lawn. Contact us now if you're ready to simplify your lawn and garden maintenance this season.