Day Of The Orchid

    Zygopetalum mackaii

Orchid

Type Perennial

Hardy range 10B to 11

Height 15" to 20" / 40cm to 50cm

Growth rate Average

Form Irregular or sprawling

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun

Bloom Color Brown, purple and white

Bloom Time Fall and Winter

The flowers are showy.

Environment This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green


Culture Notes To use in a container, pot with pieces of tree fern and fern roots for drainage. Prevent the full sun from reaching the plant. It will need lots of moisture in the summer with fertilizer once every 2 weeks. Once the pseudotubers are formed, give the plant a dormancy period to promote blooming, but never let the Zygopetalum dry completely out. The bloom is a yellow-green color and is shaped like a star. It is speckled with a purple-brown color, and the lip has a fan shaped blade that is white; spotted and streaked with some purple.

Paphiopedilum x 'Agincourt'

Venus' Slipper, Lady's Slipper, Slipper Orchid 

Type Perennial
Hardy range 10A to 11
Height 8" to 10" / 20cm to 25cm
Growth rate Average
Form Irregular or sprawling
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun

Bloom Color Yellow
The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is a neutral to slightly alkaline (6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes Venus' Slipper prefers rain or soft water and frequent spraying. Fertilize frequently during the growth period, although a dormant period is not necessary. A well-drained soil is a must for this plant to be healthy.

 

Phalaenopsis x

Moth Orchid

Type Perennial

Hardy range 10B to 11

Height 4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm

Growth rate Average

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Full shade to full sun

Bloom Color Lavender, pink, purple, red, white and yellow

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates a little salt.
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green and purple

Culture Notes Water can collect in the thick leaves of the Moth Orchid. No dormancy is needed because this orchid has no pseudotubers. It requires a low temperature in the winter with less moisture. During the growth period, fertilize every 2 weeks and keep the humidity high, with lots of moisture at the roots. This is a rock dwelling plant. These are very popular orchids, particularly when it comes to cut flowers for bridal bouquets, etc.

 

Cypripedium acaule

Pink Lady's Slipper, Moccasin Flower, Ladyslipper Orchid

Type Perennial

Hardy range 5A to 8A

Height 8" to 12" / 20cm to 30cm

Growth rate Slow

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Full shade to partial sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Pink

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

Environment This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is an acidic (less than 6.8) soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes These orchids are difficult to cultivate. If they are doing well in the garden, they should not be disturbed.

  

  

 

Cymbidium x

Cymbidium Orchid

Type Perennial

Hardy range 10A to 10B

Height 12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm

Growth rate Average

Form Irregular or sprawling

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun

Persistence Evergreen

Bloom Color Orange, pink, purple, red, white and yellow

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes Orchids are frequently used as house plants, but they will grow outdoors and tolerate even some frost. Avoid excessive high temperatures and give plenty of water and food when orchids are actively growing. Keep them in a bright location, away from direct sun. Staking may be required on the taller types.

 

Cattleya maxima

Orchid

Type Perennial

Hardy range 10B to 11

Height 8" to 12" / 20cm to 30cm

Growth rate Slow

Form Irregular or sprawling

Exposure Full shade to partial sun

Bloom Color Lavender, pink, purple, red, white and yellow

Bloom Time Year 'round

The flowers are fragrant, showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates drought and a little salt.
This plant will grow in moist to wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes Beautifully marked flowers are large and may range in color from a lavender to a light rose. Growing on trees, this orchid is an epiphyte. It can be grown in a container, such as a lattice basket, as long as the pot is well draining. Never give this orchid full sun in the summer or spring. During growth, provide lots of water and fertilize regularly and, once dormant, keep dry.

 

Disa uniflora

Pride of Table Mountain, Orchid

Type Perennial

Hardy range 10B to 11

Height 6" to 24" / 15cm to 60cm

Growth rate Average

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Full shade

Bloom Color Pink

Bloom Time Spring and Winter

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant will grow in moist to wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes Grow cool in the winter, giving less water. In the summer keep shaded with plenty of rainwater and a well-drained environment. The Pride of Table Mountain has the largest flowers in the genus. The roots of this plant prefer a wet soil. Exportation from their native land is prohibited.  

 

Dendrobium x

Orchid, Rock Lily

Type Perennial

Hardy range 10B to 11

Height 6" to 14" / 15cm to 35cm

Growth rate Average

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Lavender, pink, purple and white

Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are fragrant, showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes The Orchid needs a cool, dry winter with little water and no fertilizer. It can be grown outdoors where there are frost free winters and moderate summers. In the South, cool conditions and minimal temperatures are needed. In the North, it needs warmth, high light and a rest during winter to promote flowering.

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Perennial Of The Day

 Arenaria montana

Mountain Sandwort

Type Perennial

Hardy range 4A to 7A

Height 8" to 10" / 20cm to 25cm

Growth rate Average

Form Spreading or horizontal

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color White

Bloom Time Summer

EnvironmentThis plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture NotesKeep sandwort well watered during its growing season and only moist during the winter.

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Perennial Of The Day

Alcea rugosa

Hollyhock

Type Biennial, perennial

Hardy range 2A to 8A

Height 5' to 6' / 1.60m to 1.80m

Spread 12" to 36" / 30cm to 90cm

Growth rate Fast

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Full sun

Bloom Color Yellow

Bloom Time Summer and Fall

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates some drought and some salt.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes This tall plant will need staking if not planted next to a fence or a wall. Remember that cultivars will not come true from seed. This plant is usually grown as a biennial, but can be grown as a perennial if, after flowering, it is cut to 6in/15cm above the ground. Burn the remains.
A. rugosa (Russian Hollyhock) has large, single, yellow (sometimes appearing as yellowish-orange) blooms and deeply lobed foliage. It tends to have less of a problem with hollyhock rust than some of the other cultivars.

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Perennial Of The Day

Aconitum x cammarum syn. Aconitum bicolor 'Eleanor'

Monk's Hood

Type Perennial

Hardy range 4A to 8A

Height 36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m

Spread 12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm

Growth rate Average

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun

Bloom Color Lavender

Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant will grow in moist to wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes Plant in fall or early spring and do not transplant if it is not necessary. If Aconitums are planted in a sunny location, keep them well watered and do not allow them to dry out. Otherwise stunting may occur. The leaves, roots and seeds of these plants are poisonous, so use good judgement if transplanting.
Needs a cool, moisture retentive soil.

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Day Of The Sedum

Sedum 'Matrona'

Sedum, Live Forever, Rose Carpet, Showy Stonecrop Sedum, Stonecrop

Type Perennial
Hardy range 3B to 8B
Height 18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Spread 12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Growth rate Average
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun


Bloom Color Pink
Bloom Time Summer and Fall


Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.


Leaf Color Green, pink and silvery


This plant has attractive foliage and attractive fall colors.


Culture Notes
In general, Sedums are tough, low-maintenance plants that are able to grow in just about any place and in any type of soil. Because of their soft, fleshy foliage, however, they are easily crushed with excessive foot traffic. Self propagation is just as common as the established forms of propagation (stem cuttings, seeds and division of plants), and can take place any time of the year. In the spring, cut back to basal foliage and remove dead foliage.
The gray-green foliage of 'Matrona' is edged pale pink. Its pink blossoms turn reddish in autumn. If grown in part shade in hot climates, this sedum may require support.

Sedum spurium

Two Row Stonecrop, Sedum

Type Perennial, succulent

Hardy range 4A to 9A

Height 4" to 8" / 10cm to 20cm

Growth rate Average

Form Spreading or horizontal

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Evergreen

Bloom Color Pink and red

Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are showy.


Environment This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green and variegated
Fall Color No change in fall color

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes Many cultivars available. All can be lifted and divided in the spring and stem cuttings can be taken and rooted in the summer. Prefers a sunny spot and a well-drained soil and will tolerate high heat and poor stony soil. Leaves are green, serrated with orange margins. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.

Hylotelephium cauticolum syn. Sedum cauticolum

Stonecrop, Sedum

Type Perennial, succulent

Hardy range 5A to 9A

Height 4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm

Spread 8" to 10" / 20cm to 25cm

Growth rate Fast

Form Rounded and spreading or horizontal

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Pink, purple and red

Bloom Time Fall

Environment This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Blue and silvery
Fall Color Copper and red

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes This hardy and low maintenance Stonecrop seems to prefer partial shade and a well-drained soil. Plant turns a coppery-red in the fall and will die out in the winter. Stems of this plant are trailing and spreading.

Sedum kamtschaticum syn. Sedum ellacombianum

Kamschataka Stonecrop, Kamschataka Sedum, Orange Stonecrop

Type Perennial, succulent

Hardy range 4A to 10A

Height 6" to 12" / 15cm to 30cm

Spread 15" to 18" / 40cm to 45cm

Growth rate Average

Form Irregular or sprawling and spreading or horizontal

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color Yellow

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

Environment This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green
 
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes Easily rooted from stem cuttings taken in the summer. The whole plant can be lifted and divided in the spring. In the spring, remove dead foliage only. Shear lightly after blooming. Although this Sedum is often grown as a groundcover, it is easily crushed by foot traffic. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people. An attractive cultivar, ' Weihenstephaner Gold', has golden yellow blossoms that turn orange.
Divide as necessary to maintain in its place.

Sedum 'Red Chalk'

Sedum, Live Forever, Rose Carpet, Showy Stonecrop Sedum, Stonecrop

Type Perennial

Hardy range 3A to 9A

Height 2" to 4" / 5cm to 10cm

Growth rate Average

Form Spreading or horizontal

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color Pink

Bloom Time Summer

Environment This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Pink

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes In general, Sedums are tough, low-maintenance plants that are able to grow in just about any place and in any type of soil. Because of their soft, fleshy foliage, however, they are easily crushed with excessive foot traffic. Self propagation is just as common as the established forms of propagation (stem cuttings, seeds and division of plants), and can take place any time of the year.

Sedum 'Mohrchen'

Sedum, Live Forever, Rose Carpet, Showy Stonecrop Sedum, Stonecrop

Type Perennial

Hardy range 4A to 10A

Height 18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm

Spread 18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm

Growth rate Average

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Pink

Bloom Time Fall

Environment This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green, pink and purple
Fall Color Red
This plant has attractive foliage and attractive fall colors.

Culture Notes In general, Sedums are tough, low-maintenance plants that are able to grow in just about any place and in any type of soil. Because of their soft, fleshy foliage, however, they are easily crushed with excessive foot traffic. Self propagation is just as common as the established forms of propagation (stem cuttings, seeds and division of plants), and can take place any time of the year. In the spring, cut back to basal foliage and remove dead foliage. The burgundy-red foliage of 'Mohrchen' is toothed and turns deep red in early autumn. If grown in part shade in hot climates, this sedum may require support.

Sedum lanceolatum

Stonecrop, Sedum

Type Perennial

Hardy range 6A to 9A

Height 6" to 8" / 15cm to 20cm

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Full sun

Bloom Color Yellow

Bloom Time Summer

Environment This plant tolerates drought.

This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes In general, Sedums are tough, low-maintenance plants that are able to grow in just about any place and in any type of soil. Because of their soft, fleshy foliage, however, they are easily crushed with excessive foot traffic. Self propagation is just as common as the established forms of propagation (stem cuttings, seeds and division of plant), and can take place any time of the year.

Hylotelephium spectabile syn. Sedum spectabile 'Brilliant'

Sedum, Ice Plant, Stonecrop

Type Perennial, succulent

Hardy range 4A to 9A

Height 12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm

Growth rate Average

Form Rounded

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color Pink

Bloom Time Summer and Fall

The flowers are suitable for dried flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes In general, Sedums are tough, low-maintenance plants that are able to grow in just about any place and in any type of soil. Because of their soft, fleshy foliage, however, they are easily crushed with excessive foot traffic. Self propagation is just as common as the established forms of propagation (stem cuttings, seeds and division of plants), and can take place any time of the year. The clump can be dug and divided in the spring and cuttings can be rooted in the summer.
'Brilliant' has greenish-gray foliage and flat clusters of pink flowers. These sedums grow quite well in our southern states. Even in the winter, the dried flower clusters are ornamental.

Sedum spurium 'Tricolor'

Two Row Stonecrop, Sedum

Type Perennial

Hardy range 4A to 8A

Height 3" to 4" / 8cm to 10cm

Spread 16" to 18" / 40cm to 45cm

Growth rate Average

Form Spreading or horizontal

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Deciduous and evergreen

Bloom Color Yellow

Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are showy.

EnvironmentThis plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green, pink, variegated and yellow

This plant has attractive foliage and attractive fall colors.

Culture NotesSedums can be lifted and divided in the spring, and stem cuttings can be taken and rooted in the summer. Prefers a sunny spot and a well-drained soil. This plant will also tolerate high heat and poor stony soil. Leaves are green, tinged pink, with creamy yellow margins. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.

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Perennial Of The Day

Stachys byzantina syn. Stachys lanata; Stachys olympica 'Big Ears'

Lamb's Ears, Woundwort

Type Perennial

Hardy range 4A to 8B

Height 6" to 18" / 15cm to 45cm

Spread 18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm

Growth rate Fast

Form Spreading or horizontal

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Evergreen

Bloom Color Lavender

Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are fragrant, suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Silvery

This plant has attractive foliage and fragrant foliage.

Culture Notes Stachys tends to rot in hot humid summers. Cut back old foliage in the spring and divide plants every few years to control overcrowding. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.

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Perennial Of The Day

 

Goniolimon tartaricum syn. Limonium tartaricum

Tartarian Statice, German Statice

Type Perennial

Hardy range 5A to 10A

Height 12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm

Growth rate Average

Form Rounded

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Semi-evergreen

Bloom Color Pink and white

Bloom Time Summer and Fall

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes Prefers full sun, a well-drained soil with good air circulation.

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Perennial Of The Day

 

Aquilegia caerulea

Rocky Mountain Columbine

Type Perennial

Hardy range 3A to 8A

Height 16" to 18" / 40cm to 45cm

Spread 24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm

Growth rate Average

Form Rounded

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Blue

Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are suitable for dried flowers.

Environment This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color Green

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes Leaf miners often develop after flowering, and the foliage should be removed and destroyed. The plant will regrow in a few weeks. Aquilegia's have a long carrot like root making them difficult to transplant.
Wire cages may be necessary for rabbit problems.

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Semi-Evergreen Tree Of The Day

 

 

Delonix regia

Royal Poinciana, Peacock Flower

Type Tree, woody plant

Hardy range 10B to 11

Height 25' to 50' / 7.60m to 15.20m

Spread 50' to 70' / 15.20m to 21.40m

Growth rate Fast

Form Spreading or horizontal and vase shaped

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Semi-evergreen

Bloom Color Orange and red
Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are very showy.

Environment This plant tolerates drought and a little salt.
This plant will grow in very dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to alkaline (less than 6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Green
Fall Color No change in fall color

Culture Notes Royal Poinciana provides fullest flowering and best growth when planted in full sun locations. Plants in flower attract hummingbirds. Like any tree, Royal Poinciana needs to be well-watered until established, then only occasionally during extended drought. Fruit pods are large and litter the ground.

Do not plant closer than about 10 feet from patios, pavement or sidewalks, since large surface roots are common. Pruning is required when the tree is young to encourage development of branches which are well-attached to the trunk. This is best accomplished by keeping branches less than about half the trunk diameter with regular pruning. This will help compensate for the weak wood. Train the tree so the lowest major limb is located 10 to 15 feet from the ground to allow for adequate clearance beneath the tree. Trees receive moderate damage in hurricanes compared to other tropical trees. Trees compartmentalize decay poorly which means decay can develop and spread quickly following mechanical injury from construction activities near the tree, vandalism, storm damage, or improper pruning cuts.
Trees serve as larvae hosts for the orange-barred sulfur (Phoebis philea) butterfly.

Maintain adequate mulch areaClear all turf away from beneath the branches and mulch to the drip line, especially on young trees, to reduce competition with turf and weeds. This will allow roots to become well established and keep plants healthier. Prune the tree so trunks and branches will not rub each other. Remove some secondary branches on main branches with included bark. This reduces the likelihood of the main branch splitting from the tree later when it has grown to become an important part of the landscape. Locate the tree properly, taking into account the ultimate size, since the tree looks best if it is not pruned to control size. The tree can enhance any landscape with its delightful spring flush of foliage. It can be the centerpiece of your landscape if properly located.

Tree establishment specifications Choose good quality trees for planting. The most common cause of young tree failure is planting too deep. In most instances, the point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk (referred to as the root flare zone or root collar) should be located just above the soil surface. You may have to dig into the root ball to find the root flare. If there is nursery soil over this area, scrape it off. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider because roots grow best in loose soil. In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, extensive research clearly shows that there is no need to incorporate any amendments into the backfill soil. Simply use the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Simply planting with the topmost portion of the root ball slightly higher than the surrounding soil might still install the tree too deep - be sure to locate the root flare.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch to at least a six-foot diameter circle around the tree. This area should be at least two feet in diameter for each inch of tree trunk diameter and maintained during the establishment period. Apply a thinner layer of mulch directly over the root ball but keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. This allows rainwater, irrigation and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry. Placing mulch against the trunk and applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water.
Regular irrigation after planting encourages rapid root growth that is essential for tree establishment. Trees provided with regular irrigation through the first growing season after transplanting require about 3 months (hardiness zones 9-11), 6 months (hardiness zones 7-8), or one year or more (hardiness zones 2-6) per inch of trunk diameter to fully establish roots in the landscape soil. Trees in desert climates may take longer to establish. Trees that are under-irrigated during this establishment period (and most trees are) often require additional time to establish because roots grow more slowly. Be prepared to irrigate through the entire establishment period, especially during periods of drought.

Irrigation also helps maintain and encourage the desirable dominant leader in the tree canopy on large-maturing trees. Instead of a dominant leader, trees that are under-irrigated during the establishment period often develop undesirable, low, co-dominant stems and double leaders that can split from the tree later.

Unlike established plants, which do best with deep, infrequent irrigation, research clearly shows that recently transplanted trees and shrubs establish quickest with light, frequent irrigation. For trees planted in spring or summer, provide one (cooler hardiness zones) to three irrigations (warmer hardiness zones) each week during the first few months after planting. Daily irrigation in the warmest hardiness zones provides the quickest establishment. Following the initial few months of frequent irrigation, provide weekly irrigation until plants are fully established. With every irrigation, apply one (cool climates) to two (warm climates) gallons of water per inch trunk diameter (e.g. 2 to 4 gallons for a 2-inch tree) over the root ball only. In most landscapes that receive more than 30 inches of rain or irrigation annually, if the mulch area is maintained weed-free, irrigation does not need to be applied outside of the root ball. Never add water if the root ball is saturated.

In cooler hardiness zones, in all but the driest years, irrigation of spring- and summer-planted trees usually can be discontinued once fall color has begun. Irrigation of fall planted trees, however, should be continued until foliage has dropped from the deciduous trees in the region. In warmer climates, irrigate fall-and winter-planted trees as described for the spring- and summer-planted trees.

In drier, desert climates there is benefit to be gained from applying additional irrigation outside of the root ball area. This is best done by making a large diameter berm four to six inches high, then filling it with water so it percolates into the soil. For the first two years, irrigate twice each week through the spring, once per week in summer provided monsoons arrive, and twice each week again in fall if it remains warm. Taper off watering to once or twice each month in winter and resume twice weekly next spring. For years three to five, water twice per month in spring, summer, and fall and once or twice per month in winter. During years five through seven, water once every three weeks in warm weather and once every six weeks in winter. After this, the drought-tolerant desert trees should be able to survive on natural rainfall.

Trees with good, strong structure need no pruning at planting, except to remove broken twigs. Do not remove branches to compensate for root loss - research has shown that this can be detrimental to establishment.

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