How to Water Plants?

Congratulations with your newly installed landscape. E.L.S. Landscaping has put together a few important tips for maintaining your newly installed plant material. If you should have any questions after reading this information, please contact our office at (262) 376-8727.
Watering GuidelinesAll plant material has been watered by our company at the time of installation, but the continuing care of these plants now relies on you. All plant material should receive one inch of water, every week, during the months of April through October. Please follow these simple care instructions to ensure your plant material continues to grow and mature within your property.

• For the first three months, water all plants twice a week.
• Starting the fourth month through the next three years, check plant material weekly and water as needed.
• During fall, around Thanksgiving time, water all trees and shrubs for the last time.
• After the ground freezes, soak the ground thoroughly around the base of all evergreens. This water will freeze within the mulch and ensure a mid-winter or early spring watering.

SPECIAL NOTE: You may need to water more often during periods of hot, dry weather; or especially on sunny sites, sloping grades, sandy or gravelly type soils. You may also need less water during periods of cool, wet weather; or in shady sites, swale / low areas or in clay type soils.
How to WaterAlways check the soil around plant material before watering by doing the "FINGER TEST".
Pull back the mulch at the base of each plant and place your finger within the top 3" to 4" of the soil. DO NOT just touch the soil surface. If the soil is moist, no water is needed. Below contains some simple watering tips to follow.

• Water slow and deep around the base of trees to reach the bottom of the root ball. You can do this by placing a short soaker hose in a circular pattern around the base of a tree and water for approximately 20 minutes.
• Lay a garden hose down at the base of each plant, without a nozzle on the end, and apply water at a slow trickle. DO NOT water plants from above and get the foliage wet, especially roses. Follow the chart on page 2 for proper watering schedule times.
• DO NOT OVER WATER! If you over water a plant, the oxygen area is eliminated
  within the soil structure. Roots will become damaged and will eventually kill a plant.

General Guidelines for Watering(at a very slow trickle)
Trees, 2” to 3” caliper 15 to 20 minutes
Trees, 1” to 2” caliper 
9 to 15 minutes
Evergreens, 6’ to 8’ tall15 to 21 minutes OR 5 to 7 gallons
Evergreens, 3’ to 5’ tall9 to 15 minutes OR 3 to 5 gallons
Large Shrubs
9 to 15 minutes OR 3 to 5 gallons
Smalls Shrubs3 to 9 minutes OR 1 to 3 gallons
PerennialsSoak soil thoroughly!SPECIAL NOTE: Soaker hoses work very well for watering large perennial areas. To gauge the watering amount with soaker hoses, place a collection container (i.e. a coffee can) out within your perennials and water until you collect ½ inch of water.