This watering guide gives a broad guideline for established plants - plants more than two years old. Be sure to observe your plants to make sure they can adapt to this watering schedule. If your plants are used to another watering schedule you cannot just change your watering habits immediately, to meet this new schedule. Your plants may require a two or three year adjustment period to meet this recommended watering schedule. If you see signs of stress, you should supplement this water schedule to meet your plant's needs. Water according to the plants requirements, not according to your schedule. More 'old' plants die from too much water than die from the lack of water. However, during periods of hot, dry, summer weather even 'old' plants may need a little extra water to keep them healthy.
You must realize that not all plants have the same growing conditions, even in the same yard. Plants can have different soil types, drainage conditions, light and temperature variations, and even differing amounts of water and fertilizer - just two or three feet apart. Water may drain away quickly from one plant but may puddle and stay wet around another plant in the same row. One sprinkler may be closer to one plant than another, or, a sprinkler may not be emmitting the same amount of water as the next one (the sprinkler may have dirt in the nozzle or the nozzle might be a different size and emmits a different amount of water.) No matter what the reason, one plant may die from the lack of water while another plant dies from over-water, even though they are all being watered on the same schedule. Be sure to observe your plants on a regular schedule - every time you are out working in the yard!
Newly planted shrubs need to be observed more frequently and require a more frequent watering schedule than older, more established plants. As a rule of thumb - Newly plants shrubs and trees should be watered once a day for the first week or two. After the first week, water them once or twice a week with a hose - do not rely on sprinklers to water newly planted shrubs. Water newly planted shrubs regularly for the first summer.
Approximate Recommendations Only.
These recommendations will vary according to the temperature, plant location, soil conditions, wind conditions, and the amount of natural rainfall
Tall Trees (40'+)
No Additional Water
Boxelder
Chinese Elm
Tree Of Heaven
Water 2x per month
Ash, Autumn Purple,
Ash, Summit,
Ash, Marshall,
Birch, River,
Fir, White,
Fir, Sub-Alpine,
Fir, Douglas,
Ginkgo, Autumn Gold,
Honeylocust, Shademaster,
Honeylocust, Skyline,
Honeylocust, Golden,
Horsechestnut,
Mulberry, Fruitless,
Oak, Burr,
Oak, Red,
Pagoda, Japanese,
Pine, Vanderwolf,
Spruce, Norway,
Spruce, Black Hills,
Sycamore,
Walnut, Black,
Zelkova,
Water 1x per month
Birch, occidentalis
Catalpa, Western
Cedar, Incense
Cedar, Western Red
Elm, American or Dutch
Hackberry
Kentucky Coffee Tree
Locust, Black
Pine, Austrian
Pine, Ponderosa
Pine, Scotch
Poplar, Narrowleaf
Poplar, Cottonwood
Spruce, Colorado
Willow, Weeping
Willow, Globe
Water 1x per week
Birch, European White
Birch, Jacquemonti
Birch, Paper
Cedar, Blue Atlas
Larch, European
Linden, American
Linden, Littleleaf
Maple, Crimson King
Maple, Norway
Maple, Red Sunset
Maple, October Glory
Poplar, Bolleana
Poplar, Lombardy
Poplar, Quaken Aspen
Sweetgum
Medium Trees (2x5'-40')
No Additional Water
Russian Olive
Juniper, Utah
Water 2x per month
Lilac Tree, Japanese
Mountain Ash
Pear, Flowering
Water 1x per month
Juniper, Rocky Mountain
Locust, Idaho
Maple, Bigtooth
Pine, Bristlecone
Pine, Pinyon
Pine, Mugho Tall
Water 1x per week
Redbud, Eastern
Redbud, Oklahoma
Low Trees (2x5'-)
No Additional Water
Curlleaf Mahogany
Mountain Mahogany
Oak, Scrub
Water 2x per month
Catalpa, Bungei
Crabapples
Cherry, Flowering
Fruit Trees, Most Varieties
Hawthorn, Paul's Scarlet
Hawthorn, Lavelle
Golden Rain Tree
Maple, Amur
Maple, Japanese
Pine, Bosnian
Pine, Columnar Scotch
Plum, Flowering
Smoketree
Spruce, Alberta
Spruce, Baby Blue Eyes
Water 1x per month
Chokecherry
Maple, Rocky Mountain
Serviceberry, Saskatoon
Water 1x per week
Dogwood, Flowering
Golden Chain Tree
Wisteria
Shrubs (6'+)
No Additional Water
Mahogany, Mountain
Sumac, Smooth
Tamarix
Water 2x per month
Arborvitae, American
Cotoneaster, Peking
Cotoneaster, Spreading
Dogwood, Redtwig
Dogwood, Yellowtwig
Elderberry, blue
Forsythia, Lynwood Gold
Honeysuckle, Arnold Red
Lilac, Chinese
Lilac, Common
Lilac, French
Mockorange
Plum, Cistena
Pyracantha
Rose, Persian
Tallhedge
Water 1x per month
Junipers
Peashrub
Rose, Wild
Sumac, Cutleaf
Sumac, Staghorn
Water 1x per week
Beauty Bush
Burning Bush
Elderberry, american
Euonymus, Japanese
Euonymus, Manhattan
Hibiscus, Rose of Sharon
Oregon Grape
Privet, Golden
Privet, Cheyenne
Pussy Willow
Spireae, Bridlewreath
Viburnum, Burkwood
Viburnum, Snowball
Viburnum, Leatherleaf
Viburnum, Trilobum
Weigela, Red Prince
Weigela, Pink Princess
Weigela, Bristol Ruby
Yew, Japanese
Yew, Hicks
Shrubs (6'-)
No Additional Water
Ephedra
Rabbitbrush
Sagebrush
Saltbush
Sumac, Dwarf Smooth
Sumac, Oakleaf
Yucca
Water 2x per month
Almond, Flowering
Arborvitae, japanese
Barberry, Crimson Pygmy
Barberry, Japanese Redleaf
Barberry, Mentor
Barberry, William Penn
Blackberry,
Boysenberry
Caryopteris, Blue Mist
Spireae
Currant, Alpine
Currant, Golden
Cotoneaster, Cranberry
Cotoneaster, Dameri
Cotoneaster, Horizontal
Fir, Dwarf Balsam
Grapes, All varieties
Hypericum,
Kinnikinnick
Lilac, Korean
Lilac, Miss Kim
Mockorange, Dwarf
Oregon Grape, Compact
Quince, Flowering
Potentilla, all varieties
Rose, Austrian Copper
Spruce, Nest
Spruce, Pumilla
Water 1x per month
Coralberry
Junipers
Oregon Grape, Creeping
Pine, Mugho Dwarf
Silver Buffaloberry
Snowberry
Western Sand Cherry
Water 1x per week
Azaleas
Blueberries
Boxwood, Common English
Boxwood, Common Dwarf
Boxwood, Japanese
Butterfly Bush
Currants
Dahpne
Dogwood, Isanti
Check Your Sprinklers.
Make sure they are
watering evenly.
Dogwood, Kelsey
Euonymus
Forsythia, Arnold's Dwarf
Gooseberry
Hydrangea
Ninebark, Physocarpus
Privet, Lodense
Raspberries
Rhodendrons
Roses, Common
Roses, Groundcover
Spireae, dwarf varieties
Strawberries
Weigela, Java Red
Weigela, Minuet
Willow, Dwarf Artic Blue
Yew, English
Flowers
(Annual & Perennial)
No Additional Water
Erigonum
Poppy California
Blue Flax
Penstemon, Wasatch
Penstemon, strictus
Water 2x per month
Aesclepias
Ajuga
Arabis
Aremeria
Aster, perennial
Baby's Breath
Bachelor's Button, perennial
Basket of Gold
Campanula, Serbian
Centaurea
Centranthus
Coreopsis, Moonbeam
Corydalis
Daffodil
Daylily
Epimedium
Eryngium
Euphorbia
Gaillardia
Geranium, Perennial
Germander
Goldenrod
Hollyhock
Iris, Bearded
Iris, Sweet
Jacob's Ladder
Lambs Ear
Penstemon, Elfin Pink
Penstemon, Pinnifolius
Phlox, Creeping
Poker plant
Poppy, Iceland
Poppy, Oriental
Primrose, Evening
Rudbeckia
Statice
Silvermound
Silverbrocade
Snow in Summer
Sweet William
Tulip
Wallflower
Water 2x per week
Ageratum
Celosia
Clarkia
Dahlia
Foxglove
Geranium, Annual
Monkey Flower
Petunia
Phlox, Tall
Scabiosa
Zinnia
Water 1x per month
Blue Fescue
Grass, Buffalo
Hens & Chicks
Juniper
Kinnikinnick
Mahonia, Creeping
Pink Pussy Toes
Potentilla
Sedum
Yarrow, Hybrids
Water 1x per week
Creeping Jenny
Grass, Hard Fescue
Irish Moss
Ivy, English
Pachysandra
Plumbago
Potentilla verna
Sweet Woodruff
Thyme, Wooly
Vinca Major
Vinca Minor
Violets, sweet
Don't Waste Water - Fix It!
Water 1x per month
Anemone Pulsatilla
Coneflower
Flax, many varieties
Grasses, most Ornamental
Hens & Chicks
Portulaca
Sedum
Yarrow
Water 1x per week
Astilbe
Aubretia
Bachelors Buttons, Annual
Balloon Flower
Begonias
Bleeding Heart
Calendula
Campanula, carpatica
Campanula, Bluebells
Candytuft
Carnations
Columbine
Coral Bells
Coreopsis
Cosmos
Daisy, Shasta
Daisy, Alaska
Delphinium
Dianthus
Fern
Geum
Hosta
Impatiens
Lavendar
Liatris
Lupine
Lychnis
Marigolds
Monarda
Obedient Plant
Painted Daisy
Pansies
Peony
Russian Sage
Salvia, Annual
Salvia, Perennial
Saxifraga
Snapdragon
Soapwort
Spiderwort
Sweet Woodruff
Thyme
Veronica
Violets
Groundcovers
No Additional Water
Aster, Pacific
Blueflax
Buffalograss
California poppy
Eriogonum
Eriogonum
Eveningprimrose
Sheepfescue
Yarrow, Common
Water 2x per month
Ajuga
Alpine Strawberry
Basket of Gold
Bishops Weed
Grass, Turtle Turf
Honeysuckle
Hypericum
Paxistima
Snow In Summer
Water 2x per week
Grass, Kentucky Blue
Grass, Perennial Rye
Grass, Red Fescue
*** These recommendations will vary according to the temperature, plant location, soil conditions, wind conditions, and the amount of natural rainfall.
