Do You Have to Water Shrubs You Just Plant?

Planting shrubs adds an aesthetically pleasing element to your garden, but taking care of them is a different story. As a newly planted shrub, it has just been uprooted from where it was growing before, and it takes a while for it to establish roots in its new home. So, the question arises- do you have to water shrubs you just plant? The answer is yes - and here’s why.

Reasons for Watering Newly Planted Shrubs

Watering newly planted shrubs are vital to their survival, as they’ve been recently uprooted and struggle to establish themselves in a new soil environment. Shrubs need water to combat the heat, wind and sun while they acclimatize to their new surroundings. When you water your newly planted shrubs, the water helps to settle the soil around their roots, enabling the shrub to secure itself firmly in the ground.

Moreover, if you don’t water newly planted shrubs, they tend to wilt or dry out since they can't extract moisture efficiently from the surrounding soil to sustain themselves. In addition to that, the root balls of newly planted shrubs are prone to drying out, which may cause the roots to die before they get a chance to establish themselves in the new location.

How Often to Water Newly Planted Shrubs

It's important to water your newly planted shrubs frequently during the first few months. It's recommended to water them every day or every other day, depending on the weather conditions. You should also ensure that the soil around the shrub is always moist, but not soaking wet. To check if the soil around the shrub is moisturized, insert a stake or something long and slim into the soil to a depth of about 5-6 inches.

If it comes out relatively dry, it's an indication that the shrub requires more watering. By keeping the soil around the shrub sufficiently moist, you permit the roots to establish themselves firmly in the ground, which ensures healthy shrub growth in the future.

Tips for Watering Newly Planted Shrubs

Now that we've established that watering newly planted shrubs are crucial, here are a few tips to ensure that you do it right:

Use a soaker hose - this helps to soak the soil around the shrub evenly and gently.

Water shrubs early in the morning, or late in the evening. This is because watering during the day can lead to evaporation of the water before it gets a chance to reach the roots.

Water the shrub slowly - this allows the soil around the shrub to absorb water without forming puddles around the shrub's base.

Consider using mulch - Mulch helps to retain moisture in the soil and also provides the shrub with moderate temperature conditions.

In Conclusion

While it might seem like newly planted shrubs can take care of themselves, the reality is that they require a helping hand, particularly when it comes to watering. Since newly planted shrubs have yet to establish themselves in their new environment, it's essential to water them frequently during the first few months. By doing so, you ensure that the soil around the shrub remains moist, which allows the shrub to grow strong roots and achieve optimal growth. So, don't forget to water your newly planted shrubs - they'll thank you in the long run.