Kens' comments are correct, but I'd add, that does sound like too much watering being recommended by your tree guy. Sure, all Thuja like moist soil, but that doesn't mean saturated, just evenly moist. Is it like a hundred degrees where you live already? Didn't think so ;^) Unless there's some factor we're not aware of, about once a week, heavily, should do.

+oM

Early on, the added water must go directly into the rootball. That means you need to apply adequate water to maintain an even moisture level within the rootball.

Here are 4 methods to get water directly into the rootball; choose one:

1. water by placing a drizzling hose nozzle on top of the root ball.

2. water by installing a temporary drip system, the drippers directly on top of the rootball.

3. Make a hokey temporary drip system with 3 1-gallon plastic jugs. Poke a pinhole (total 2 holes per jug) in opposite corners at the base of the jugs; set jugs on top of rootball; fill with water every day.

4. make a low soil dike at the edge of the rootball; fill the basin every day or 2, as needed.

Beyond that, I hope the planting was filled with water and allowed to drain, then that process repeated, prior to setting the tree in the hole.

A pre-plant drench such as that moistens the native soil which will surround the new rootball. That soil will likely remain moist for an extended time because the tree's roots are still confined within the rootball.

Sounds like too much water. Twice a week deep watering for a month to 6 weeks after planting and then switch to once a week for 85F + weather. Less as it gets cooler.

"Wiring pulled back and down from root ball".

Does that mean it was completely removed or just loosened up and pulled away from the root ball

Can you be little more specific.

Dave

Thanks, everyone, very much, for the advice. Especially helpful, since I know just enough to be dangerous. :-) Planted a week ago, watered heavy 1st 3 days, skipped the 4th day, then heavy rain storms day 5 (localized flooding-heavy) -- the day I posted the question, lots of rain day 6, and some sun today, day 7. Yikes! I think the rootballs are pretty wet, but, Ken, I'll get out there tomorrow with my finger to check, when I can walk on the lawn without sinking in.

And, Jean, thanks for the watering step-by-step. Did not do a pre-planting drench. It was off the truck, roll 'em to the back yard and plant. I watered after the fact.

Dave, the wiring was not completely removed, but opened up and pulled away from the rootball and bent down about half-way down the root ball, give or take. The plants were pretty heavy, and my tree guy wanted to try to keep the root ball intact. He mentioned cutting some of the wiring away with bolt cutters when he's out again in 2 or 3 weeks.

Thanks again!
Bill

with the heavy watering.. and the rain .. all pooled on top of the clay .... you MIGHT NOT HAVE TO WATER THEM AGAIN FOR A MONTH ....

especially if you lawn is so sodden that you cant barely walk over it ....

sounds like you have.. like all clay gardeners.. a greater chance of drowning them .. than them dying for lack of water ...

good luck

ken

I read somewhere that for the first growing season the rule of thumb is water the equivalent 2 inches of rain a week? Maybe twice a week for the first month or two when newly planted?

For a conifer with a 5 ft spread at the base that means 6 gallons per watering if you do the math.

Comments?

Math error !!

For a 5 ft spread at the base watering 2 inches SHOULD BE: [30 x 30 x 3.142 x 2] / 231 = 24 gallons.

well chet ...

your math .. plus how the water moves through the soil ....

if you dig a hole in my sand... i could put down 24 gallons of water.. and the hole will be dry in less than an hour ... gone.. moved on toward the water table...

if you dig a cauldron in clay ... it might hold the same water for the rest of the summer ... impermeable ... they line ponds up here in sand land with clay ...

so we always have to fall back to inserting finger.... or digging a small hole.. to learn to understand how water moves through the unique soil in your garden ... to make sure that whatever water is put down.. it is actually enough to get to the root zone ...

ken

A week ago I planted some 7' green giant virescens, and have watered at least every other day until ground was well soaked. My soil is very sandy, so even a few hours after I water its no longer really wet, just damp. Is it possible I could need to water more? A few of the trees have a little bit of yellow on the tips. Is this just general stress or does this usually mean something (too much/not enough water)

Thanks

I am planting a 3' Thuja Green Giant in well drained soil which is a dark brown color about 4" down. Any tips different from the 7' trees mentioned above besides using less water? I use a 16" X 1/4" sharpened wooden dowel when I'm not using my finger. If the end feels cool to the touch I don't water that day. I plan to use a 5' soaker hose wrapped twice around the base. If it takes 15 minutes to fill a pie pan that holds 2 cups of water, (4 cups = 1 quart, etc.) and my math is right, it takes 2 hours to use 1 gal. of water. How long should I let the water run for a newly planted 3' Thuja Green Giant? Right now the daytime temperature runs between 85-90 degrees. July and August is a toasty 105-110+! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

norwood1081,
Congratulations for being the most southerly and possibly the driest location I've seen for TGG. Please provide an update on how tree does. As this is a hybrid, no one really knows what the limits of this tree are. Typically trees up to about an inch in diamter need about 5 gal/week. Another way to calculate water needs is to provide the equivalent of 1" rainfall per week. You may need to increase these when temp.s hit 100+, particularly if your soil is well drained.

scotjute:
Sorry to take so long to get back but I was waiting for an email notification. The TGG has been in the ground for 3 weeks and seems to be holding it's own. It was trucked in from Oklahoma and took 4 days by UPS. It has a 3/4 inch trunk but there are 2 other 1/4 inch stems coming up from the root ball. Using the soaker hose it gets 18 gallons (2 hours) about every 3-4 days. The temp now runs about 98-104F and the last meaningful rain is a distant memory. (6-8 weeks.) We get most of our rain in July and August during the Monsoon season. About 1/3 of the leaf tips have a yellow tinge to them but like motownnj above I don't know if it's stress or something else. In your opinion, am I giving it too much water? I only soak it when the cheapo moisture meter, my finger and the wooden dowel think it's time. There is 3 inches of Composted Mulch on top which in this climate dries out quickly!

norwood1081,
How big a root ball came with your tree? Is your soil clay or sand?
If rootball was too small for size of tree, I'd water about what your doing (~twice a week), but maybe for an hour. After 4-6 weeks would shift to once a week. But that's with my clay soil and temp.'s and humidity. If what your doing is working, stick with it or maybe cut back slightly, say 1 1/2 hour soakings.
Mine was about 16" tall in very small 4-5" diameter pot. Almost had to stake it. First year, the top didn't grow. 2nd year had about 6" growth. This year I've already had about 4" growth, so it seems to be picking up steam.
This is a hybrid, as long as the soil is draining, it may be hard to overwater, especially where you are. Perhaps someone more familiar will chime in. I'm only raising one.

scotjute:
The tree is 36" high and came out of a 10" diameter pot. Too small or big, I have no idea. The soil is sandy to about 6" as you can see. After that it's a deep dark brown. Almost like potting soil, without the pieces. It has good drainage except in certain areas. I did stake it because here breezy means around 40mph! We also get dust devils.

Except for the soil differance I expect it will grow the way yours is. Your right about the southerly location. 60 miles north of the Mexican boarder.

{{gwi:676927}}

Is anyone out there? My landscaper just planted Thujas about a month ago. We are now experiencing dry conditions around the high 80s and have had VERY little rain. He hooked up drip hoses and had me keep them on for hours, like 2-3. When he said to keep them on for 4 hours I went to check and they were so wet three were falling over. He's staking them today, 48 hrs after I discovered they were flooded he claims they still need MORE water....I used a water gauge which says they are moist and they were hit by my irrigation system this morning, yet he is still watering them. One is really struggling and it cannot be from lack of water it has to be from too much. Thoughts???? Help! By the way they are 12 feet high and he used good soil around them but under the root ball I have clay soil. They are in full sun all day.

I'm no expert,but it does sound like too much water...

In my clay (DC suburb, zone 7a), I use a moisture meter since the soil is way too hard to insert finger. I never needed to water if it rained at least half an inch in the past week. As suggested by the experts here, water infrequently, and let it almost dry up in between.