Balancing plant water needs is like having a healthy diet. Everything should be consumed in moderation. Provide your plants with enough water for good health, but don't flood them with it.

The best way to know how water behaves in your soil is to dig a test hole one to two feet deep and fill with water. If it drains away in an hour or two you have excellent drainage. If it drains overnight, you have adequate drainage. If it stands any longer, you have poor drainage.

Set a rain gauge in an open area of your garden to learn how much water your garden receives in a week. After each rainfall, check the depth of the rain inside.

Watering in the mornings gives plants a chance absorb the moisture before the hot sun or strong winds evaporate the water. It also allows the leaves to dry before evening. Frequent wet foliage during the night can lead to fungal diseases.

Water timers are a great invention, but you should not automatically water your lawn and garden without checking the moisture. Too much water can be just as damaging to plants as too little water. Before watering, check your garden's soil moisture with your finger. Push it into the ground around your plants. You want the top 2 or 3 inches of the soil to be dry, and the soil below that to be moist.

If the soil clings to your fingers and feels moist to touch, don't water. If, soil falls loosely off your fingers and is dry to the touch, then water.

The best way to water is to apply it at a rate that the soil will absorb without runoff.  By watering deeply the first season, you'll help your plants to grow deep root systems.  Newly planted plants may need to be watered more often for the first few weeks. Check on them daily, but only water if needed.

Watering is the most common issue with new trees and shrubs. New plants typically need a lot of water for the first year or two as they establish. *Water requirements will vary depending on plant type, weather conditions, time of year and soil structure.

• Imagine thoroughly soaking the entire root ball when watering, as well as the soil around and below it. The goal is to soak below the root system to encourage deep rooting. Water slowly to reduce runoff. This is best achieved with a soaker hose, or garden hose left on trickle. Hand watering is not sufficient.
• As a guideline, a slow trickle for 10 minutes for every gallon size container. For example, a plant that comes from a 1-gallon size container should be slowly watered for 10 minutes, 3 gallons - 30 minutes, etc.
• Do not water every day, which can suffocate roots. Give your new plant a good soaking every couple of days, letting the soil dry out in between waterings. Watering frequencies may vary from week to week depending on weather conditions.
• Do not rely on rain. Use a rain gauge to properly monitor rainfall. A slow steady rain with an inch or more within a week period is required to be sufficient.
• Morning watering will help to prevent diseases and evaporation of moisture. Continue watering regularly throughout the first year. You should check the plant’s watering needs for at least the first two growing seasons.
• If we have a rainy spring, it is even more critical that you monitor watering later in the season.
• Do not let plants go into winter dry. One good last soaking before the ground freezes is beneficial, particularly on evergreens.

WATER AFTER PLANTING

Thoroughly water all plants immediately after planting and again the next day. Start regular waterings from there. (Water container plants as needed if not being planted within a few days.)

FIRST 3-4 WEEKS

Check soil moisture daily (physically touch or use a Moisture Meter), keeping even moisture in the root ball and surrounding soil for 3-4 weeks. Water deeply and thoroughly as needed to keep even moisture (not soggy wet). Watering frequencies may vary from week to week, depending on weather conditions. Be careful not to overwater, as it can suffocate the roots.

AFTER 3-4 WEEKS

Begin a watering routine of deep, thorough soaking; allow the soil to get close to dry, and soak again. This may vary from once every 3-5 days to every 7-10 days. Check soil moisture regularly to determine when to water next. SOAK, LET THE SOIL GET CLOSE TO DRY, AND SOAK. Do this until mid-fall. Water evergreens as needed until late fall. “Close to dry” lets the soil breathe between waterings.

AFTER THE FIRST YEAR

During the 2^nd and 3^rd growing seasons, continue to water as needed, which now maybe every ten days to 2 weeks. New plants can take 2-3 years or longer to become ‘established.’ Pay special attention during hotter / drier times of the year. Windy days can be very drying as well.

New installations should always be watered immediately after planting. Keeping newly planted and young plants well-watered is essential as their root system has yet to develop fully. Check the soil around the base of the plants, as this soil may dry out faster than soil between plants. Too much water can encourage disease and cause plant death, so it’s important to pay attention to the climate and the location of the plants to determine when and how much to water. Always check soil moisture before watering by sticking your finger in the soil up to the second knuckle.

Early morning is the ideal time of day to water your garden. This allows you to soak the roots and lose little water to evaporation. Also, foliage dries quickly as the sun and temperatures rise, making plants less prone to fungal diseases that settle in on wet leaves.

Newly Planted Perennials:

Week 1: Check newly planted perennials every day. Water only if needed.

Weeks 2-6: Water 2-3 times per week, depending on environmental conditions.

Weeks 6+: Water as required, more in summer and less in fall.

Perennials that are said to tolerate drought are drought tolerant only after they have become established.

Established Plants:

Established perennial beds (beds that have existed for more than 2 years) should get an average of 1” of water a week. Avoid watering established plants every day. A quick drink every day just encourages spindly roots. Instead, deep and less frequent watering is best to promote long roots. They’ll grow down into the ground so they stay cooler and absorb moisture and nutrients that are held there. Perennials with an established root system can also handle a little drought stress.

Noticing wilted plants is usually a good indicator that it’s time to water. However, droopy leaves and stems aren’t necessarily a signal that the plant is drought-stressed. Many perennials wilt in the afternoon, especially on hot, sunny days, but they’re fine by morning.

Check your container or hanging basket’s moisture daily (physically touch our use a Moisture Meter).

If you do not have a moisture meter:

1. Push your finger into the soil 2-3 inches.
2. If the soil clings to your finger and feels moist, don’t water.
3. Water the plant if the soil falls loosely off your finger and is dry to the touch. (Hanging baskets may feel light when lifted.)

Water in the morning. This allows the plant to absorb the moisture before the hot sun or strong winds evaporate the water. It also allows the leaves to dry before evening. Frequent wet foliage during the night can lead to fungal diseases.

In hot weather, containers may need to be watered daily, sometimes twice daily, depending on the pot size. Water until the water comes out of the drainage hole at the bottom. Containers that are especially root-bound (lots of roots) or have been established for several months will need more water. When watering the container, go around the entire container with the watering can or wand—including the edges- to ensure all the soil is soaked.

It is important to remember not to let containers sit in water.

• Thoroughly water all plants immediately after planting and again the next day. Start regular watering from there.
• Check the soil around the base of the plants, as this soil may dry out faster than soil between plants. Too much water can encourage disease and cause plant death, so it’s important to pay attention to the climate and the location of the plants to determine when and how much to water. Always check soil moisture before watering by sticking your finger in the soil up to the second knuckle.
• Water in the morning.
• For the first two weeks check plants daily (water as needed)
• Weeks 3+: Water 1-2 times per week, depending on environmental conditions.

Mulching reduces surface runoff and slows evaporation along with reducing weed problems. As an added bonus mulching may also prevent certain kinds of soil diseases from coming into contact with your plants leaves, and it makes the garden look tidy, too.