Proper Watering Guide

Posted on August 20, 2025

With drought conditions like we’ve seen this summer (intense heat combined with a lack of rain), plant scorching, wilting, and premature leaf drop have been extremely prevalent. We’ve also noticed some native trees dropping their foliage early this year as a way to survive the year. Proper watering is key to preventing these issues before they occur, and to help your stressed plants recover!

WATER REQUIREMENTS:

  • Trees, shrubs, perennials, and roses should receive about an inch of water per week. Without proper rain, be sure to water the root zone deeply AT LEAST three times a week
  • Annuals, tropicals, and containers may require water every day (or even twice a day in extreme temperatures!), depending on the location, size of the container, and types of plants.
  • Lawns need a minimum of 1 inch of water per week. It is better to water deeply in the early morning to avoid evaporation and disease promotion caused by late-day watering. Instead of running your sprinklers for 20 minutes per day, try every other day for a minimum of an hour.
    • If your lawn is brown and dormant, let it remain in dormancy as opposed to watering irregularly, as this could do additional damage.

WHAT TO USE:

  • Drip irrigation, soaker hoses, or hand watering are all great ways to water. Avoid using sprinklers or overhead watering as irrigation for anything other than lawns.

Tips FOR SUCCESS:

  • Long soaks are best. Avoid short, frequent watering as this does not promote root growth.
  • Water the root zone as opposed to coating the foliage, as this can make sun scorch worse and leave plants vulnerable to foliar diseases
  • Use a breaker on your hose for a softer stream
  • Let plants dry out between waterings
  • A good test to do is to put your finger in the soil. If it feels dry to the touch around 2-3 inches down, it’s time to water!
  • Top up mulch! Mulch is a great way to help plants retain moisture to get through those tougher days. You should have around 2-3 inches of mulch around your plants (but not up against the trunk).