Tips On Watering Your Landscape
adapted from The Columbus Landscape Association
The hot, dry periods that often occur in Ohio weather patterns can present a real
challenge to anyone who is trying to keep trees, shrubs, flowers, and lawns alive and
healthy. Here are some proven ways to help outdoor plants grow and stay healthy during
periods of time when there is little or no natural rainfall.
- Add a two-inch thick layer of mulch on top of the soil around trees, shrubs, ground
covers, flowers, and vegetables. Shredded bark is the best kind of mulch for trees,
shrubs, ground covers, and flowers but aged wood chips, leaves, straw, or similar organic
materials will also work. Leaves or straw are good mulches for vegetables. Mulching is
very beneficial to plants because evaporation of water from the soil is greatly reduced,
the soil stays cooler, and competition from weeds is reduced. One direct result of a good
mulch is the significant reduction in the amount of supplemental water that plants need
during hot, dry periods. Mulches are most beneficial when applied at planting time, with
more being added as needed to maintain the desired thickness.
- Check the moisture in the soil under plants at least once a week whenever the natural
rainfall might be inadequate. Don't guess or make assumptions about soil moisture. The
only sure way to check soil moisture is to put your hand down into the soil under the
mulch (use a tool to dig a small hole if you need to) and feel the soil. If the soil is
sticky and it feels wet or moist, then there is enough water in the soil. If the soil is
powdery and it feels dry, then water needs to be added as soon as possible.
- Water plants wisely when soil moisture is found to be inadequate. In general, wise
watering means:
a) Soaking the soil deep down (as far as the plant roots go) and then waiting
again until the soil is again dry or nearly dry. This method encourages plants to grow
more vigorous, deep roots that tolerate dry spells better than plants with shallow roots.
b) In hot weather, water early in the morning or in the evening when the
temperature is cooler; this method will conserve water because less water will be lost to
evaporation and more will soak into the ground.
c) Use a small sprinkler or slow-running hose that gets moved to several places
when watering individual trees or shrubs; use larger sprinklers or sprinkler systems when
watering planting areas with many plants or on lawns.
d) Adjust the water flow so that little or no water runs off the surface of the
area in order to eliminate waste.
e) Make sure that the water only goes on the plants that need it.
f) Turn the water off when the soil is soaked deep enough (six inches to two feet
depending on depth of plant roots) or when the water is running off instead of soaking in
(mulch also helps water soak in since water often just runs off bare soil).
g) In hot dry weather and/or during restricted water use periods, the plants that
are the most important ones to water are newly seeded or sodded lawns (for the first two
to four weeks), and then anything else that has been planted recently; next most important
are established trees, shrubs, ground covers, annual and perennial flowers, and
vegetables; established lawns are least important because grass plants can survive long
dry periods by going dormant (brown).
h) In addition to checking soil moisture by feel, one way to judge how much water
to apply is to measure both the natural rainfall and supplemental water by using a rain
gauge under sprinklers and using the guidelines below.
Plant watering guidlines
Established Trees and Shrubs:
These recommendations are generally required for each 1" of tree caliper, or per
3' of shrub height.
up to 65 degrees: Optimum-1/2" per week, Moderate-1/2" every 2 weeks,
Minimum-1/2" per month.
65 - 85 degrees: Optimum-3/4" per week, Moderate-3/4" every 2 weeks,
Minimum-3/4" per month.
over 85 degrees: Optimum-1" per week, Moderate-1" every 2 weeks,
Minimum-1" per month
Ground Cover Plantings, Annual Flowers, Perennial Flowers, and Vegetables:
Apply 1/2" twice a week on new plantings until plants are well rooted (2-3 weeks).
Apply 1/2" of water to established plantings whenever the soil checks dry.
Newly Seeded Lawns:
Water to keep the seed bed moist (up to three times a day) for at least three weeks
until the grass is four inches high, then reduce watering to established lawns rates.
Newly Sodded Lawns:
Soak new sod immediately after it is laid. Then water every day for the first two
weeks, and after that reduce watering to established lawn rates.
Established Lawn Areas:
Optimum watering: The optimum amount of water for ideal turf growth is the
amount that it takes to keep the entire root zone (usually 8-12") moist (not wet).
up to 65 degrees: 1/2" of water per week, including natural rainfall.
65 to 85 degrees: 1" per week.
85 degrees or more: 1-1/2" - 2" per week.
Less than optimum watering: When lawn watering is restricted but still allowed
on a limited basis:
up to 65 degrees: up to 1/4" of water per week, including natural rainfall.
65 to 85 degrees: 1/2 - 3/4" per week.
85 degrees or more: 1" per week.
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