Watering in newly planted plants

Swooping Swallow

The conventional wisdom is to water a newly planted plant frequently until it is established (how long does that take - a month, the remainder of the growing season?).

On last week's Gardeners' World Monty Don stated he only watered once after planting (unless there is a prolonged hot, dry spell), didn't apply any fertilizer and then left the plant to its own devices, his thinking being that this encourages roots to grow in search of moisture and nutrients. I think Beth Chatto did this with her dry garden and RHS Wisley do it with their Prairie borders. It makes sense as I can see that if roots have all the moisture and food they need in the initial planting hole, why go foraging for sustenance?

Which is the best approach? I suppose Monty Don can do this as he has moisture retentive soil, but can this technique really work on dry, sandy soil? I imagine one way to help is to apply a mulch straight after planting in order to trap moisture.

I ask as I've just finished planting a new border in the front garden/driveway and am tempted to leave the plants to forage for water.      

AnniD

I tend to do just that, give them a really good soak and then leave them to get on with it, but that generally applies to Autumn planting.
I would add that if they show signs of stress, particularly with Spring planting (and any planting done at this time of year), then l would water again. and keep a close eye on them.
I have been out planting today (pinks, shrubby salvias and campanula),  the ground was pretty damp and we have just had rain. 
What have you been planting ?

Fairygirl

It depends on the plant, and the soil and climate - and a shrub is entirely different to a perennial  or annual. 
I can often plant things and not even water them in if the soil's already wet - that can even be in summer, although not this year.  
The important thing is to water thoroughly when planting. As long as the water is getting right down into the soil, it can often be enough, but it's a judgement you have to make yourself.
In areas where water is often metred [I believe that's the case in England/Wales?] and there's frequently hosepipe bans, people tend to be more thrifty with it. It's different up here.

AnniD

@Fairygirl, l meant to edit it to comment about shrubs, then got distracted and forgot 🙄.
We had rain yesterday evening which was just the right type, doesn't happen very often 😁. 
@Swooping Swallow, if it was shrubs you were planting then more water may well be required. 

Fairygirl

You got distracted @AnniD? 
That never happens to me.....
Re your rain- we're having  a really strange summer and I find it very worrying. Last week, they were asking people in the west of Scotland to be careful about water use. Unbelievable here. That's never happened in my lifetime. I was out on a hill yesterday, and even the bogs were drying out. Again, this time of year is normally quite wet, or with lots of low cloud, so you're needing waterproofs, and hillwalking is often a bit rubbish compared to spring and autumn walking because of that. It's been an extraordinary long, dry spell. Great for our tourism though, especially in the Highlands where they've really suffered. Ice cream sales will have been through the roof 

B3

Ice cream sales will have been through the roof

That sounds a bit awkward but fine if you're into climbing 🤔 @Fairygirl

Fairygirl

B3 said:

Ice cream sales will have been through the roof

That sounds a bit awkward but fine if you're into climbing 🤔 @Fairygirl

  

I almost stopped to get one on the way home, but it was quite late, and once I start the homeward journey, I just like to get home for a cup of tea 

Swooping Swallow

Fairygirl said:

You got distracted @AnniD? 
That never happens to me.....
Re your rain- we're having  a really strange summer and I find it very worrying. Last week, they were asking people in the west of Scotland to be careful about water use. Unbelievable here. That's never happened in my lifetime. I was out on a hill yesterday, and even the bogs were drying out. Again, this time of year is normally quite wet, or with lots of low cloud, so you're needing waterproofs, and hillwalking is often a bit rubbish compared to spring and autumn walking because of that. It's been an extraordinary long, dry spell. Great for our tourism though, especially in the Highlands where they've really suffered. Ice cream sales will have been through the roof 

Down here in the south east of England there's been a lot of rain for the time of year. I can't remember such a prolonged wet period during high summer, and the current temperature is low for this part of the country. 

The soil is quite wet at the moment and if this weather continues I don't think I'll need to water again, but I'll keep an eye on the plants to look out for any signs of distress.

The plants I've added are drought tolerant varieties, and ironically I hit an obstacle about 18 inches beneath the surface when I was trying to plant a Lavender with a deep root system. It turns out there is a pan of concrete buried quite deep in the ground (I think it's too deep to be the base of the driveway). It could be part of a drain, so I'll just have to wait and see how things develop over winter and spring. I don't know if it is under all or part of the border. I'm certainly not replanting the bed now, having spent weeks working on it. I guess the lesson is when re-planting/planting a border that is new to you, hammer long stakes into the ground to see if there's any obstacle buried deep beneath the soil! 

I posted another thread about mulches, but discovering the concrete pan makes me think it might be better not to mulch the plot in order to avoid inhibiting what little  water evaporation there might be over winter.    

Allotment Boy

I agree with other comments.  Remember where Monty is he says he rarely goes more than 2 weeks without substantial rain. He also has added tons of compost and mulch to his ground over the years.  If you are planting on poor dry soil and you get little rain then things are very different.
  We have had a lot of damp drizzly days but much of it has evaporated as fast as it comes.  I  had to water Hydrangeas in the front garden this morning as they were drooping,  they were moved from pots this spring as they had become too big. I am on London clay soil which has been mulched. So it all depends on the plant, the situation,  as well as the weather. 

AnniD

I have a pan under my garden @Swooping Swallow, but it's more of a stony type that can be loosened with the aid of a pick axe. I have visions of you hitting a mains cable or some such by hammering through the soil. Unlikely, but you never know.  
I think as it's 18 inches down you shouldn't have too many problems, but would maybe hold back on the mulch (personally). 

Fairygirl

Allotment Boy said:

I agree with other comments.  Remember where Monty is he says he rarely goes more than 2 weeks without substantial rain. 

2 days would be more like it here in normal times 
I can frequently plant without watering in, even in summer. This year has been freaky everywhere I think. Whether it continues to be that way remains to be seen.

If in doubt, water in, then keep an eye on plants - especially if it's shrubs, trees or anything woody. The better the soil structure, the better the water is retained suitably, but it's about getting to know your plot and general climate. 
I don't think nay of those water gauges and meters work well at all. We frequently get asked about them on the forum, and people seem to find them pretty useless.