1-2 weeks after planting, water daily. 3-12 weeks after planting, water every 2 to 3 days. After 12 weeks, water weekly until roots are established.
When planting: Water plants as soon as you get them in the ground. Allow the water to soak in, then water again until the soil is thoroughly moistened. Week one: Water plants daily or every other day. Recently planted roots will absorb moisture from a small area until they begin to grow.
Watering New Plants
Flat areas around the plant are fine, but make sure the plant is not in a basin or it will likely get waterlogged and die. It's important to keep the root ball moist but not soggy during the first three months after planting.
Growing season #1 – new plants need regular deep soaking.
Turn your hose on a slow trickle and place it 4-6” from the base of the plant. Let the hose run between 10-30 minutes, depending on the size of the root ball. Deep soaking is the best way to water your new plants.
Watering Flowers
Water daily for the first week to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. After seven days, you can cut back to watering the flowers just a few times per week to encourage deep root growth.
For vegetables in the summer, we recommend applying about 1 inch of water over the surface area of the garden bed per week. That is equivalent to 0.623 gallons per sq ft. Using that rate, a 32 sq ft bed requires 20 gallons of water per week.
When getting established, plants need to be checked frequently, watered often and watched for signs of stress. Establishment can take one year for perennials and shrubs, and two years or more for trees. Following fall or early winter planting, the establishment period runs through that fall, winter and spring.
The best time to water outdoor plants is in the morning when temperatures are usually cooler. This gives the plants time to absorb the water so they can get through a long, hot day. The second-best time is late in the afternoon or early in the evening.
The bottom line: Water deeply one or two times a week instead of short spurts every other day, said Savio and professional gardener Lauri Kranz of Edible Gardens L.A.
For almost all plants, you should water them only when the top inch or so of soil feels dry. An easy way to check if your plant needs watering is to follow the finger dip test. Never be tempted to over-water. Over-watering is equally as harmful as under-watering.
New Plantings
Newly installed plants are among the highest priorities for watering during a heatwave. These plants have not rooted into the ground completely and are at a greater risk of drying out during times of excessive heat. Water new plantings deeply, using soaker hoses, drip systems or sprinklers.
Allowing the soil to dry out in between waterings (while not stressing the plant) is really important for preventing disease, mold, and growing stronger and healthier plants. Less frequent but deeper watering is better than frequent shallow waterings (once plants are established).
Forgetting to water until the plants are established will most likely kill them. Overwatering is the main reason most people kill their plants. A lot of people water everyday whether they need it or not. Generally, newly planted plants need to be watered every 1-3 days.
Water enters a plant through its stem and travels up to its leaves. When a plant is properly hydrated, there is enough water pressure to make the leaves strong and sturdy; when a plant doesn't get enough water, the pressure inside the stems and leaves drops and they wilt.
Water thoroughly after transplanting – An important transplant shock preventer is to make sure that your plant receives plenty of water after you move it. This is a good way to avoid transplant shock and will help the plant settle into its new location.
Water Young Plants and Flowers Daily Until Established
While mature plants can get by for longer stretches without being watered, you need to avoid dehydrating any of the newbies. Most young varieties call for daily watering (skip rainy days) until roots are developed, which happens around the two week mark.
Insert a trowel into the soil, then tilt the trowel to check the moisture of garden plants. You can also insert a wooden dowel into the soil to determine the depth of soil moisture. If the dowel comes out clean, the soil is dry. Damp soil will cling to the dowel.
The best time to water plants is in the morning or evening.
Morning watering is actually preferable to evening watering as the plant has time to dry before the sun goes down. At night, water tends to rest in the soil, around the roots, and on the foliage, which encourages rot, fungal growth, and insects.
We should water the roots so that the plant grows healthy.
If you forget or are too busy to water your plants on some summer mornings, you can water them at night. However, this should not be your ordinary watering time. Morning is the proper time for watering plants, though you should keep in mind that not all plants need daily watering.
For flowering and non-flowering plants, the soil should have an adequate quantity of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Adding them through fertilizers increases their quantity in the soil, helps your plant to grow faster and provides necessary and timely nutrients for the absorption and development of solid stems.
But the good news is that, in most cases, plants can recover from transplant shock and go on to thrive in their new home. Even if your plants look like they're beyond hope, it's worth giving them a chance to recover. With a little care and attention, you may be surprised at how quickly they bounce back.