Asbury Gardens

Watering Your Plants

Water is the most basic necessity of your plant.  There are many misconceptions about how and when to water.  Plants need equal amounts of air and water for healthy root systems so it is important to see that your plant receives ample water.  It is also possible to over water your plant so care should be taken to see that the soil does not remain “soggy”.

Soil condition: Soil type is a major factor in determining how much water is necessary for proper moisture retention.  Loam is composed of organic matter, sand and clay.  It holds water well, drains well and has good germination and so is good for healthy plant growth.  Clay soil is hard and difficult to saturate when dry.  Sandy soils, on the other hand, dry out quickly but saturate easily.  For your convenience we have set basic guidelines for most soils.

Watering schedule: Your newly planted shrubs and trees need a considerable amount of water for healthy roots.  Water your plant an average of two times per week.  The best watering method is the slow trickle irrigation.  With a slow running hose leave it on each plant so that the ground will become saturated.  This conserves water by reducing run off while soaking deep into the roots.  Make sure the soil around newly planted shrubs does not dry out completely.  Start watering when all the snow is gone in the Spring and water through the fall up until Thanksgiving.

Mist: Light frequent misting of leaves and needles of plants helps cut down moisture loss (lost through the leaf surface itself) due to transpiration.  In the hot summer months (above 75 degrees) excessive transpiration causes stress often seen as leaf scorch and wilt.  Misting also cools the leaf surface and the soil.

Mulch: There are many types of bark mulch but the main purposes for mulch are 1) to retain more moisture, 2) for aesthetics and 3) to keep weeds down.

For most effective use of mulch, we recommend using landscape fabric (not plastic) to retain more moisture and keep weeds down.  Landscape fabric is specially made to allow water to penetrate and allow air exchange to the soil.

See one of our staff for more specific information on your plant needs.