New England was blessed with a good snowpack during the winter of 2013-14 and good groundwater in the spring, with spring rains frequently enough to maintain decent groundwater.
Now summer is here. Days are long. Nature takes temperatures up a level. Summer weather fronts often bring less rain than it may seem, but they bring hot winds that can dry plants and soils. Still, summer is a fine time for new plants – if they get the right care.
If you have planted new trees or shrubs any time in the past 12 months, be sure that they get enough water, frequently enough, and not TOO frequently.
Our guidelines on the amount of water and frequency of watering can be found in our Gardening Guidelines.
Our preferred method for watering a woody plant is to leave a hose trickling at the plant’s base, with a berm around the root zone to prevent runoff, and then walk away. If you are not watering too frequently, then it is OK to exceed the recommended amount of water. Irrigation systems can be designed for the needs of deep-rooted trees and shrubs, but most are not. Do not assume that your system will sustain such a plant. Talk with the person or company who designed your irrigation system.
If you have planted shallow rooted plants such as perennials, annuals, or lawn grasses, they need water more frequently – more like 2 or 3 times a week. The design and operation of most irrigation systems are typically well suited to the needs of shallow-rooted plants.
