The above title is something we hear everyday and is the main cause of failure in many new plantings. Depending on the type of system you have, normally the soil will asorb about 1" of moisture. This is not enough to soak a root ball. Hand watering is necessary in new plantings and is a must when large plant material has been installed.
To advise on how much water to apply is to be determined by the container size, amount of sun or shade in the planting area, type of soil, if it is on a slope, temperature, wind, etc. Wind is the number one enemy in drying out new plant growth due to the fact that it is tender and the wind sucks the moisture out of the plant cells.
Many mistakes we see is the irrigation systems running at the wrong time of day. You are wasting time and water by watering in the middle of the day. The water evaporates and your plant does need asorb the moisture it needs. The morning is the best time to run your system.
To determine if your plant is getting enough water, sometimes you have to get your hands dirty and dig down or sick a small slender dowl rod down in the soil a couple inches to see if it comes up moist. Sort of like sticking a tooth pick in a cake to see if it is done. Another option is to place a tuna fish can or sallow pan in the area and measure the depth of the water
Every sprinkler system is different in the hydralic design. You will just have to put on your spy cap and investigate to know which zones do what and are working properly. Some zones may need to run longer than others.
When a plant does not get the moistue it needs the leaves will start to droop, turn yellow and/or brown on the edges or all over. The same thing applies when a plant is overly watered. Many times in overwatering the bottom leaves will turn yellow and start dropping just as in under watering. Also, the leaves will turn black and be mushy.
On New trees it is important to build a berm around them so that the water goes down to the root ball. This is important for the first 2 years that your new trees be hand watered when the soil dries. After the first 2 years, you will need to provide deep surface watering by placing a hose round the drip line (outer canopy of the leaves) and just beyond. During heat waves do this at least every 2 weeks to keep the trees alive.
On potted plants, you will need to water more in extreme heat. I am having to water every day now in these 100 plus days. Remember, with frequent waterings you are leaching out nutrients. Apply a water-soluble fertilizer a coupes a week. Also, use a time-released plant food as an ongoing supplement such as Ferti-lome. Before applying any type of fertilizer it is important to note that fertilizer should not be applied to dry plants. This will burn the roots.
Telling clients that their sprinkler system alone will not take care of new plantings or during extreme heat spells is something they do not want to hear. It is not an option, it is a must for the survival of the plant.
