
Randy Nelson Clay County Extension
Watering newly planted trees and shrubs
Proper watering is the most important practice to ensure survival and establishment of newly planted trees and shrubs. A general guideline is to water trees and shrubs daily for the first one to two weeks after planting. During weeks three through 12, plants should be watered every two or three days. After 12 weeks, trees and shrubs should be watered weekly until established.
Shrubs are considered established when their root spread equals the spread of the above ground canopy. This will generally take one to two years. Establishment time for trees depends on size. The larger the tree, the more time it will take to establish. Trunk diameter at planting time can be used to estimate the amount of time needed for roots to establish. The trunk diameter measurement is taken six inches above the ground for diameters up to four inches. If the trunk diameter exceeds four inches, this measurement is taken 12 inches above the ground. For every one inch of trunk diameter, it will take approximately one and a half years for root establishment. For example, if a two-inch diameter tree was planted, it would take approximately three years to have an established root system.
Water the root ball of newly planted trees with approximately one to one and a half gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter. Newly planted shrubs should receive a volume of water that is equal to one-quarter to one-third of the volume of the container that came with the shrub.
To optimize root production, water uptake, and establishment of newly planted trees and shrubs consider doing the following:
- Eliminate turf and weeds from the base of the plant out to several feet beyond the plant canopy.
- Leave the top of the root ball bare and start the mulch application at the outer edge of the root ball.
- Apply a three-inch layer of organic mulch around newly planted trees and shrubs in a circle that extends several feet beyond the tree or shrub canopy.
Trees and shrubs will provide years of beauty in your landscape, so invest a little time now to ensure their survival. Source: Kathy Zuzek, former UMN Extension Educator. If you have questions about watering trees and shrubs please contact me at the University of Minnesota Extension office, Clay County at 218-299-7338 or by email nels1657@umn.edu. Check out our website at https://local.extension.umn.edu/local/clay
More information on watering trees and shrubs can be found at https://z.umn.edu/newly
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Randy Nelson
Extension Educator
University of Minnesota Extension, Clay County
Family Service Center
715 11th St. N. Suite 107B
Moorhead, MN 56560
218-299-7338
1-800-299-5020
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