Watering Guide

A complete guide for watering your plants and trees.

 

Click on the link to download a printable version.  Fosters Watering Guide.doc

Every plant and tree has different watering needs along with the soil they are planted in.  A good start provides the plant or tree with a hearty root system and helps ensure a healthy future.  These are just a few helpful tips for almost anything you plant.

  • Water newly planted trees and shrubs by moisturizing the soil all around the root ball.  The first year is the most important to keep your plants watered.
  • Plants don’t like to be watered too often if their soil is moist.  Check the soil deeper than that on the surface.  You can do this by sticking your finger or something longer to measure the moisture.  If the soil is moist below, wait to water.
  • If the soil is dry, place a hose near the base of the trunk and turn the water on a slow drip.  Watering quickly does not soak in far enough to penetrate the roots.
    • For smaller plants, water 20-30 minutes
    • For larger plants, water 30-40 minutes
    • For trees, water for a good 45 minutes
Watering dry soil should be done every 7-10 days as needed, depending on weather conditions.
Water more with drought or excessive wind, especially in the heat of the summer, but not everyday.
In the winter, once to twice a month should suffice.  If we have a wet winter, watering is not as necessary.
  • If you see wilting of the plants leaves, that is a good sign to give the plan or tree a good soak.  Wilted leaves should return to normal within a day or so.
  • You CAN over water and drown the plant or tree.  This depletes it of the nutrients it needs to grow.
  • Mulching around plants and trees is a great way to keep moisture from evaporating.

Foster’s Nursery also carries the TreeGator®.  If you aren’t known as a green thumb, this might be the thing for you.

Zip it. Fill it. Forget it.  Easy as that!

Just place the bag around the base of the tree trunk.

Zip it up.

Then, fill it full with water.  The TreeGator® releases 20 gallons over 5-9 hours to the tree, giving it a deep saturation.

For new tree plantings, fill the bag full once a week.