Summer is a great time for an addition of mulch to your planting beds for weed prevention and better soil moisture retention (2-3” layer).  Be very careful not to mound the mulch up around the trunks of trees, as it can kill the tree.

Maintaining good soil moisture is important – especially for new plantings.  New plantings typically take about 6 weeks to get some new roots established and watering can be less frequent and more at each application.  Ideally, a good, slow, deep watering is required about every 7-10 days for trees and shrubs after they are established.  Newly planted B&B and container plants need to be watched very carefully during that first 6 week break-in period after planting or until they have had a chance to get rooted in.  The easiest method of checking to see if a plant needs water is to stick your finger in the soil it was planted with, and if it feels dry – water it, and if it feels moist – skip watering it.  Typically sprinkler systems do not work well for establishing new plantings unless they are putting water on the roots where needed.