Water each plant three times the first week after installation, twice the second week, and once a week after that until the plant is established (a minimum of 2 months).
The amount of water per watering depends on the size of the plant, the time of year and the speed of water loss. The plant's roots need a cycle of wet and dry - this allows both water and oxygen into the root system. To promote this cycle, you need to water and cultivate the soil around the plant.
Avoid watering a grouping of plants with a lawn sprinkler. The variation in height of the plants results in an uneven distribution of water.
Getting the leaves wet when watering is only of value on very hot days when the water is leaving the plant faster than it can pull it out of the ground. In normal weather, mineral laden water on the leaves will dry and make the leaves less efficient, and therefore should not be done.
Evergreens, after being established, still need one more good watering in fall. Timing is important: if you water too early you may spur late growth that will not have time to harden off before winter. Water too late and the ground will already be frozen. Early November is a good target time.
AMOUNT OF WATER PER WATERING:
| Trees 2.5-3" caliper size: 5-7 gallons per watering |
| Trees 2" caliper size: 3-5 gallons per watering |
| Evergreens 6-8': 5-7 gallons per watering |
| Evergreens 3-5': 3-5 gallons per watering |
| Large shrubs: 3-5 gallons per watering |
| Small shrubs: 1-3 gallons per watering |
PERENNIALS AND GROUND COVERS:
Perennials and ground covers require deep watering to promote a deep root system. The deeper the root system a perennial has, the better it looks and grows. How a perennial is watered affects how the root system develops. Before you water, always check to see at what depth the soil is moist by digging around the plant.
If only the upper layer of soil is wet, you need to use more water per watering and water less often.
If perennials stay too wet for too long, the roots shut down and the top will wilt even if the plant is standing in water.
Black leaves are a sure sign of too much water.
Brown or wilted leaves indicate too little water.
PLEASE CALL YOUR HAWKS REPRESENTATIVE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS: (414) 258-5525
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