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Drought tolerant plants dying after planting?

17 years ago

We recently relandscaped with all drought tolerant plants. They are on a drip line every other day for 10 minutes. We were told to add extra water everyday. Somedays we did, somedays we didn't. Now 4 weeks from planting, most look very good except the ceanothus and fremontodendron. The weather has been cool, overcast mornings, and low 70's days. Are they getting too much water or not enough? How long until they are established and don't need extra water? Is it transplant shock?

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Comments (4)

Carrie B
17 years ago
I don't know anything about California gardening, but 10 minutes every two days is NOTHING! My bet is that these plants need way more than that, even if they are drought tolerant.

I would bet they need more like an hour or so, but less often, say every three to four days. Try posting on GardenWeb's California Gardening forum for more local-savvy advice.
User
17 years ago
Drouth tolerant plants are tolerant after they become established. I agree that 10 minutes if nothing.
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Hmmm. Sounds like you made a major investment in your landscape. I'm not an expert, however, I do have a mix of drought-tolerant plants, natives, and traditional plants, but I only hand water once a week, and the natives only once every 2 weeks. Usually, I try not to water unless it's a new plant, or I see something wilting. Plants, in general, seem to be a lot more drought tolerant than we think. But it might also be the frequent shallow waterings. I might try longer, deeper soaks less often. It could be your soil. I recently went to Las Pilitas and they have some very strict recommendations about planting natives. They tell you to do a deep soak when you first plant them (which is very important) and then once a week or so (depending on the plant) for the first few months (sometimes up to a year) and then back off. I recently planted 3 drought-tolerant plants in the same general area, did my deep soak...and a three weeks later, 2 are going gangbusters, and one is shriveled up and brown. The only thing I can figure is there's something in the soil that killed it.
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kwoods
17 years ago
Many drought tolerant plants need to establish deep tap roots and root systems. To establish a deep root system you want to water deeply but infrequently. 10 minutes every two days I think you are going to only establish surface roots.
ladyslppr
17 years ago
I would check the soil in the root zone depth of the new plants. I agree that 10 minutes sounds like far too short a time to water, and two days seems too frequent. Check to make sure the soil is at least a little moist a foot or two deep around the plants.

For the first year I'd make sure the plants have moderate to ample moisture in the soil all summer. After that, they should be established well enough to need only perhaps a monthly very deep, thorough watering.

One possible problem with the plants is that the planting hole is probably softened soil in what may be hard, relatively impermeable soil, so all your water is saturating the planting hole. In effect, your plants may be sitting in a hole full of water. On the other hand, they might be getting too little water. Before you change what you are doing, dig around a little and see how wet the soil is. Moist soil is good, mud or dusty conditions are bad. If moisture seems OK, maybe it is just bad luck. I'd would expect to lose a plant or two, but you shouldn't lose more than 10 or 20% even with really bad luck.

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