Plant a tree or shrub in your yard and you expand your garden family. But your work is not over!

Just like young children, young trees and shrubs require lots of extra care (fortunately not quite as much!) Many may need weekly watering for up to three years, sometimes even in the winter.

You also need to keep grass and weeds away from their trunks. It is important to apply 2-3 inches of mulch at least annually to retain moisture (see below). Mulch should be kept several inches away from the trunk. This allows air to circulate around the trunk. It also reduces the chance of crown rot diseases and damage from animals like voles.

The following tips are summarized from a University of Maryland (UMD)Extension’swebpage https://extension.umd.edu/sites/default/files/_images/programs/hgic/Publications/HG85_Watering_Tips_for_Drought_Conditions.pdf

Watering Guidelines

Apply 1 gallon of water per square foot of root zone once a week [you may need to adjust depending on the plant] … If you water with a garden hose without a nozzle, simply make note of how much time it takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket. You can then calculate how much time it will
take to deliver one gallon per square foot of area.

The root zones of trees and shrubs extend out from the trunk in an area at least equal to the height of the plant

Mulch & Care for Trees During Drought

Mulch around plants to keep weeds down, conserve soil moisture and moderate soil temperatures. Organic mulches, such as bark, shredded leaves, grass clippings and straw are preferred because they improve  soil structure and return nutrients to the soil upon decomposition. Apply mulches no deeper than 2-3 inches.

Avoid using fertilizers or pesticides. Fertilizers can damage root systems under drought conditions and pesticides may burn plant foliage.

Resist the temptation to prune “dead wood” from your woody ornamentals. Wood that is obviously dead may be removed at any time. However, drought-stressed plants become dormant
and may appear dead. Dead wood is brittle and brown under the bark and dormant wood is green under the bark….

Keep turf at least 2 feet from the trunks of young or newly planted trees because it competes with the trees for water. Apply a mulch in this area.

Control weeds around shrubs, vegetables and flowers. Weeds can out-compete cultivated garden plants for water and nutrients.

Laura