How Much Did Your Watering REALLY Benefit Your New Plantings?

Now that you are ready to really get serious about planting your vegetable garden and container gardens for the patio or getting those shrubs in the landscape we need to talk about something that is critical for good healthy plant growth. Unfortunately many people who garden don't understand the importance of thoroughly watering their "new" plants. Truthfully, it is thee most difficult skill to teach and master in the growing plants. When you stop and think about it, plants are made up of 90%+ water. It stands to reason that this is a make or break issue when you are growing plants and particularly when they are growing in containers or newly planted plants in the landscape or garden.

This short article, no matter how hard we try, will never make you a pro when it comes to proper watering. But, we can make you aware of a couple of serious pitfalls so you can recognize when you may be headed for trouble. Let's talk about a newly planted shrub or tree first, since this type of plant material can be a substantial investment. This same principal also applies to newly planted container gardens.

#1- When a new plant is planted in the landscape take a guess where all the roots are? Very good, in the root ball that came with the plant. This root system is like the heart of an animal or us humans. 100% of the nourishment or vitality of this plant is dependent on what is provided to the root ball from either Mother Nature or from you. The roots of the plant are not out into the surrounding soil, they are 100% in the root ball so it becomes very, and critically important, to know what is happening in the root ball not in the surrounding soil.



#2- So does it matter to this newly installed plant how moist the soil is around the root ball? Not really, the roots of shrubs and trees will not be out in the surrounding, nicely amended soil you placed around the new plant for 30 to 90 days. A substantial number of roots from the original root ball of a shrub or tree take time to get into the new surroundings. (Bedding plants and perennials will become established in a matter of 10 days or so.)

#3- The question is: Where do you check to see if the plant needs to be watered? Your right again, you need to check the root ball of the plant, not the surrounding soil. As soon as the weather gets warm and becomes hot, the "new" plant can "suck" the root ball dry and with no, or very few roots, into the surrounding soil, the new plant can literally dry up even though the soil around the plant is wet. Some people refer to this as "wicking".

Trying not to add confusion to this subject...on the other hand, don't over water.

Stay tuned...we are out of room for this week, we'll have more information next time about how to provide the right amount of water for newly planted plants in the landscape.

If you have a gardening question send it to info@meadowveiw.com for a prompt response.

Thank you for 33 years serving you,
Meadow View Growers

www.meadowview.com.

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Landscaping/Gardening Information:

Related Articles

Vegetable Garden Layout
The size of your yard will determine your final vegetable garden layout. What can be fun is the planning of the garden and the decisions surrounding the kind of garden you want.
It's Gardening Season!
It's gardening season again! Are you ready? Whether you are a seasoned gardener, or are looking to start gardening, you will likely need supplies and plants. If you shop smart, and use the tips below, you can get that garden running with very little money.
June Gardening Tips
These are just a few gardening tips for you to consider here in late June. Many people seem to think that just because all the plants have been put into their places for the summer and your perennials are blooming, or past bloom, there is no more work to be done.
Cast Aluminum Furniture
In days gone by, outdoor furniture was cast from iron. Today, cast aluminum furniture is used more often.
Does Your Lawn Need Attention?
Right along with Fall being the best time to plant trees and shrubs it is also the best time to renovate or establish a new lawn.
Light Up the Night! Quick Facts about Outdoor Lighting
When the days start to get shorter, the darkness may drive us inside from our porches, patios or decks. Don't despair - outdoor lighting can lengthen the day and dramatically extend the potential of our outdoor living spaces.
Fish Health in Hot Summer Heat
Summer is over, but for many of us - the heat remains.Here a couple of things to do to keep your fish healthyand your pond clear going into winter.
How to Care for Long Stem Roses
Widely considered to be the most popular roses for all occasions, what many people think of as classic long stem roses are in fact Hybrid Teas. A mixture between the Hybrid Perpetual and Tea Rose from China, these long stem beauties have long pointy buds with up to 30-50 petals per bloom.
Gallica Roses
Very soon stocks of new season's roses will be arriving in the garden centres, if they're not already there. Indeed, to be sure of getting the most sought after varieties it may have been necessary to put an order in some time ago.
Gardening on a Budget
When we moved into our south Anchorage log home I had glorious plans for the 1/3 acre lot. Some previous owner had chopped down every tree counting on the neighboring woodlands for green and shade.
How to Grow Asparagus
Asparagus is a perennial plant with erect, edible stems and tiny branches that bear even tinier flowers that become red berries that contain the black Asparagus seed. Formerly in the Liliaceae family, botanists have realized that Asparagus is in a class by itself and have repositioned its 120 species in the Asparagaceae genus.
How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden
The flittering of the butterfly through your garden is no accident if you planned your garden carefully. The adult butterfly flitters from flower to flower - sipping nectar from many flowers in your gardens, while other adult butterflies search for areas to lay their larvae.
Budget For Your Garden
Have you ever thought about how much it costs to maintain your garden? Most people never give it much thought - spending the odd day in the garden when they have time and impulse buying plants at the local nursery.But if you're serious about saving money and adding value to one of you're most important assets it's worth thinking about the ongoing costs associated with garden maintenance and how this can be minimized.
Lawn Disease And What To Do About It
Every lawn, whether new or established, is susceptible to a variety of lawn diseases. Most lawn disease starts with a fungus.
Bag Worms Are in the Area
Some insects that feed on the plants in our landscapes are not that damaging but some of them, if allowed to go unchecked, can ruin a plant's ornamental value or actually kill it.
How to Grow Snow Peas
Snow peas may have been named because in bright sunlight their light green pods look as if they might be tinged with frost. One of the oldest vegetables, the earliest recorded pea was grown in 9750 BC on the Thai-Burma border.
A Quick Overview of Outdoor Hot Tubs
There is nothing quite as relaxing as a leisurely evening soak in the hot tub after a long, hard day's work. Sore muscles can finally relax as the water jets massage aches and pains away.
Tips On Caring For Your Cut Flowers
Imagine it's a special occasion and you've just received a glorious bunch of roses. You put them in your best vase and you stand back to admire them.
Organic Roses in the Flower Garden
Many people believe growing their flowers and vegetables organically is healthier for them and their environment. It is natural that you may wish to grow your roses this way also.
Wooden Garden Furniture
Wooden Garden Furniture can be the ideal solution to various seating problems in your garden. You can add new seating areas to your garden by perhaps turning a path into a destination for a sit down or consider adding a few pieces of wooden garden furniture to less frequented corners of the garden.