Watering Your Lawn & Landscape

Proper watering is one of the most important parts of keeping your lawn, trees, shrubs, flowers, and garden plants healthy. While every plant has its own needs, most landscapes benefit from deep, consistent watering rather than infrequent light sprinkling.

How Much Water Do Plants Need?

Most newly purchased plants require daily watering for the first 2-3 weeks. For best results, continued daily watering is suggested for all outdoor plants during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. 

Remember to include natural rainfall when calculating how much additional water your plants need.

Watering New Plantings

Newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials need extra attention while they establish. Check the soil moisture daily for the first six weeks after planting, or for about one month if planted during summer. After that, check every other day throughout the first growing season.

Checking moisture does not always mean watering. Weather, soil type, plant size, sun exposure, and rainfall all affect how quickly soil dries out. The goal is to keep the root ball moist, but not overly saturated.

Summer Watering During Extreme Heat

During the hottest months of summer, lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and newly planted material need extra attention. High temperatures, strong sun, and dry conditions can quickly pull moisture from the soil, causing plants to wilt, dry out, or become stressed.

In very hot weather, it is important to check plants daily for water, especially new plantings, hanging baskets, annuals, vegetables, containers, and plants in full sun. Containers and hanging baskets dry out much faster than plants in the ground and may need water every day, or even twice a day during extreme heat.

The best time to water is early in the morning, before the heat of the day. This allows water to soak deeply into the soil and reach the roots before evaporation increases. When possible, water deeply at the base of the plant rather than lightly sprinkling the leaves.

During extended periods of heat, do not rely only on a set watering schedule. Check the soil often by feeling a few inches below the surface. If the soil feels dry, it is time to water. Keeping plants consistently hydrated during hot summer weather helps prevent stress and keeps your landscape looking healthy and beautiful.

Water Early in the Day

The best time to water is early in the morning. Watering during the heat of the day can lead to water loss through evaporation, while watering late in the evening can leave foliage wet overnight and increase the chance of disease. Morning watering allows plants to absorb moisture while giving leaves time to dry during the day.

Know Your Soil Type

Soil type plays a major role in how often and how much you should water. Sandy soil drains quickly and does not hold moisture well, so it may need more frequent attention. Clay soil holds water longer and can become too wet if overwatered. 

Not sure what type of soil you have? Ask Lisena Garden Center for help.

Use Mulch to Conserve Moisture

Mulch is a simple and effective way to help your plants retain moisture. It also helps regulate soil temperature, reduce weeds, and give your landscape a clean, finished look.

Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around plants, but avoid piling it against trunks or stems. Keep mulch a few inches away from the base of plants to prevent moisture buildup, rot, insects, and disease issues.

Watering Tools & Irrigation Options

Automatic irrigation systems are a popular option for homeowners who want a more hands-off watering solution. For best results, lawns and planting beds should be set up on separate zones because they often have different watering needs. With the right watering routine, you can protect your investment and help your lawn and landscape stay healthy, beautiful, and resilient throughout the season. Contact the landscaping office here for more info.

Drip irrigation provides slow, steady watering directly near plant roots. Drip systems are especially useful for vegetable gardens, flower beds, containers, and small ornamental gardens. Larger systems are best installed by a professional. Contact the landscaping office here for more info.

Soaker hoses deliver water directly to the root zone through tiny openings along the hose. They are ideal for garden beds and landscape plantings and can be left in place for the season or hidden beneath mulch. Because they do not wet the foliage, they can also help reduce disease problems.

Watering cans are perfect for containers, small garden areas, and spot-watering plants near a water source.