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6/19/24, 2:14 PM Water Smart: Steps to Establishing Your Native Plants - Dyck Arboretum

Water Smart: Steps to Establishing


Your Native Plants
Posted on May 3, 2017 by Janelle Flory Schrock

Originally published on April 29, 2015, here are some helpful hints from our Executive Director Scott Vogt on
getting your native plants established using “waterwise” methods.

Also, due to the rainy weather during our FloraKansas Native Plant Sale last weekend, we are happy to
announce we will be having a “rain check” native plant blitz this coming Saturday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 2
p.m. If you missed the weekend sale, come enjoy the lovely weather and consult with Scott and our other
native plant experts in the greenhouse.

Now that you have purchased your plants at our FloraKansas plant sale and hopefully gotten them planted in
your landscape, you’ll want to be intentional about watering methods. It’s true, native plants are more
drought-tolerant than you may be used to. However, in order to get your plants successfully established, they
will still need some careful attention these first few weeks and through the summer.

Follow these steps to be “water smart” as you establish your native plants:

The First Year


When planting: Water plants as soon as you get them in the ground. Allow the water to soak in, then water
again until the soil is thoroughly moistened.

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6/19/24, 2:14 PM Water Smart: Steps to Establishing Your Native Plants - Dyck Arboretum

First Two Weeks: Water plants daily depending on the weather. If it rains, skip a watering. Just-planted
roots are only able to absorb soil moisture from the potting soil. They have not attached to their surrounding
soil. When you see new growth, the plants have begun to get established.

First Month: Unless the weather is extremely hot and dry, you may be able to decrease watering frequency
to two or three times per week. Generally, you want the soil to be dry an inch or two below the surface
before you water. Too much water leads to foliar and root problems. It is optimal to allow the soil to dry
between watering because this encourages roots to grow deep.

Following Months: Water only when top inch or two of soil dries or when plants display signs of being dry.
Water deeply and infrequently. How much water will depend on your soil and environmental conditions.
Don’t forget to check your plants during the winter months.

The Second Year

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6/19/24, 2:14 PM Water Smart: Steps to Establishing Your Native Plants - Dyck Arboretum

Water deeply as needed. During prolonged periods of dry weather water once or twice per week. Generally,
it takes plants at least two years to fully develop a sustaining root system.

The Following Years


Properly planted and watered plants should be fairly well established, and can thrive with less watering than
you may expect. Drought-tolerant plants may need no supplemental water, whereas shallow-rooted plants or
plants with greater water needs may need water weekly. Many plants, when selected for the conditions in
your yard, may need watering only once or twice a month in dry weather.

Best Management Practices for Native Plants


(BMPs)
Drought-tolerant plants: Even drought-tolerant plants need regular water until they are established!

Young Trees and Shrubs: Young trees and shrubs need deep regular watering. During times of little or no
rain, water deeply once a week until trees become established.

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6/19/24, 2:14 PM Water Smart: Steps to Establishing Your Native Plants - Dyck Arboretum

Fertilization: Don’t fertilize new plants. Fertilizing during establishment encourages rapid top growth that is
not sustainable by the root system.

Mulch: Mulch new plantings with 1-3 inches of mulch and keep mulch away from plant stems.

Water in the morning: Less water is lost to evaporation.

Choose the right watering method: A soaker hose applies water directly to the soil and reduces
evaporation. If you are planting a few plants in an existing planting bed, hand watering can get the new plants
the water they need while not overwatering the rest of the bed.

Get to know your soil: Is your soil sand or clay? It greatly affects watering frequency and duration. Our
clay soils can only take in about an inch of rain per hour.

Check soil moisture before watering: Check soil moisture with finger or spade. Soil should be dry an inch
or two below the surface before you water.

Recheck soil after watering: At least an hour after you water (or two hours with clay soil), probe soil to see
how deeply the water penetrated. If it didn’t reach the root zone, you may need to increase your watering. If
the area is soggy, try cutting back on watering next time.

Pick the right plant for the right place: Choose plants that are pest-resistant, require less water, and match
the sun, shade, and soil in your yard.

Avoid planting in hot, dry weather: Plants will easily stress and not develop healthy roots under hot, dry
conditions. If you must plant in summer, plant in the cool of the morning when less water is lost to
evaporation.

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