At Riverside Nursery, we understand that proper watering and aftercare are crucial to maintaining the health and beauty of your plants. With our vast selection of high-quality plants, we are committed to guiding you through the best practices to ensure your garden thrives.
General Watering Principles
Watering is key to plant success, but each plant type has different requirements. Understanding these needs will help your garden flourish.
Trees & Shrubs
- Newly Planted: For the first year, water thoroughly 1-3 times weekly. Adjust based on weather conditions—more frequently in hot, windy conditions.
- Method: Use a slow trickle from a hose for 20 minutes at the plant base, or switch to soaker hoses for a deeper soak of 30+ minutes. Our quality trees and shrubs, known for their strong root systems, benefit greatly from deep watering.
- Avoid relying on standard sprinkler systems, which often don’t provide sufficient moisture for newly planted trees and shrubs.
Broadleaf Evergreen Trees & Shrubs
- Winter Protection: Use an antidessicant around Thanksgiving to prevent winter burn. Reapply in February when temperatures are above 40°F to maintain plant vitality.
Perennials
- Initial Care: Newly planted perennials require thorough watering every 2-3 days. Once established (after several weeks), reduce to once weekly.
- Regular checks are essential in hot or windy weather to ensure perennials do not dry out.
- Fertilization: Use general-purpose fertilizers like Planttone, Gardentone, Osmocote, or 5-10-5 when planting to promote robust growth.
Annuals
- Routine Checks: Particularly in summer, monitor daily. Water thoroughly to ensure drainage from pots, generally 2-3 times per week.
- Container Care: Smaller containers and hanging baskets, due to faster drying rates, need more frequent watering.
- Fertilization: Use Jack’s weekly or Osmocote every 2-3 months. Dr. Earth monthly is recommended for those seeking organic options.
Houseplants
- Weekly Soaking: Most houseplants prefer a thorough soaking once a week, ensuring water drains well. Our selected houseplants thrive with proper drainage and attention.
- Avoid placing near vents which may hasten drying.
- Fertilization: Houseplants appreciate a monthly feeding to sustain their lush appearance year-round.
Lawns
- Sodding: Newly installed sod requires daily watering for the first week, transitioning to 2-3 times per week until established and rooted.
- Seeding: Newly seeded lawns need light, frequent watering (2-3 times a day) until germination. Once grass begins to grow, scale back to a deep weekly soaking.
- Early morning is the optimal time for watering to reduce evaporation and promote healthy lawn growth.
