Watering in Viburnum tinus 'Gwenillian'

Ellen1963

I have just bought (and planted) a Viburnum tinus 'Gwenillian'.

My question now is: how much water does it need to settle in?

In the description it says it needs well draining/dry soil, so I do not want to drown it.

Help!

Thanks in advance.

Regards, Ellen

nutcutlet

A good watering in, then back off a bit. When the rains start for autumn you needn't water again till spring.

You need to loosen the roots a bit before planting if it's got pot bound, it makes it easier for them to get established. 

Fairygirl

It's a question of judgement Ellen. Anything newly planted needs watered regularly until it shows signs of being established. That's easier in spring because you'll usually see new growth, more difficult just now. Water it thoroughly - big can of water - and then leave it for the rest of the week unless it shows signs of wilting. If you stick a finger down into the soil you'll be able to tell how dry it is. If the soil's free draining and there's no heavy rain, it could get dry quite quickly, so water again if that's the case. If not, do that once a week for the next few weeks. You may still see some new growth so ease off if that happens.  In another month or so, we should be getting enough rain regularly so it shouldn't be a problem. 

Ellen1963

Oh, that's great advice. Thank you both. I will check the soil next weekend to see how it is getting on. More good weather on the way I hear. 

And it was really pot bound, so I took a scraper to it, (the thing you usually use to remove weeds from between the garden slabs) since they were so tight.

It looked a lot happier after that treatment.

nutcutlet

I'm sure it will be fine. I have an old dinner fork to scrape at pot bound roots

Ellen1963

Fairygirl

Do you give OH that one for his tea nut? 

I've never needed to water plants in the ground as often as I've done this summer. It's been unusually dry for us up here. It's all about dealing with the conditions you have and monitoring plants as you go along. Good luck with it Ellen - I'm sure it will be fine, as nut says 

Ellen1963

Hahaha! Who knows Fairygirl!  

I don't know whereabouts you are, but I am not used to watering plants at all when they are in the soil here in the Netherlands.
However, since summers are starting to become dryer here as well (with last August as a noteable exception ) I might just have to. I will keep an eye on my precious new Viburnum. 

Thanks once again! 

 

Fairygirl

I'm in the west of Scotland Ellen, and we usually have high rainfall right through the year,including the summer. I never have to water plants once they're established because I have clay soil which never gets really dried out, but this year and last year have been very dry. Your climate might be quite similar to ours I think.

Hope it goes well for you  

Ellen1963

Thank you Fairygirl. (sorry for the late reply, btw)

Yes, our conditions are similar, but we are still a bit more like the East Coast, I think.

You have the Gulfstream, which we haven't, so it can freeze quite a bit here.

My garden soil consists solely of leaf compost over a 5 foot layer of sand, so quite dry in summer. Mulching twice a year with more leaf compost and cocoa shells helps a bit, but not all anymore, or so it seems. 

The worst of all, though, are the late frosts which seem to happen more regularly nowadays. Hopefully that will not happen coming winter. My hydrangeas have recovered miraculously from the last episode. I would hate to lose them! 

 

Fairygirl

Hi Ellen - yes the east coast is generally colder but drier, whereas we get long cold wet winters, although we do get frost and snow as well. I can see how it might be tricky to keep enough moisture for plants with your soil conditions! The more planting you have, the greater the competition for moisture too. You're doing the right thing by mulching anyway, and that will help prevent freezing as well as retaining moisture in dry weather.

Can you get farmyard manure there? It helps enormously with moisture retention, and conversely helps with breaking up and improving heavy clay. If you have a riding school or stables nearby they're usually happy to give some away, but it's also available in a bagged,ready to use form here in GCs and DIY stores. Some of that dug into borders should help with water retention and boosts the nutrient levels. Interesting that you're also seeing a definite change in your weather there.

Hope the Viburnum is doing fine