How Much Water Do North Texas Plants Need?

Summer in North Texas challenges plants with sustained high temperatures, little rainfall, and frequent high humidity. One secret to dealing with moisture loss at plant roots is using mulch. Add 2 to 3 inches of natural or artificial mulch to beds and landscape plants to help retain moisture in the soil. Mulch should be near, but not touching, the plant’s stem or trunk.

Watering New Plants

The best time to add most perennials, shrubs, and trees to a North Texas landscape is in the fall. The cooler temperatures and rainfall give the plant time to become established before it deals with the hot, dry Texas summer. Because new plantings usually have small roots and root systems, they require more water than they will when they are established plants.

Immediately after planting, water a new addition to the landscape thoroughly. The goal is to place water down 6 to 8 inches into the soil. The plant’s roots will absorb the water for later use. Plants grown in containers with rich potting soil take time to push their way into the clay soil that exists in many North Texas landscapes. So, for the first two weeks, check plants daily or every other day to make sure they are not wilting.

If a gardener is not sure a plant needs water, check the moisture level of the soil immediately next to the plant’s stem by poking a finger 1 inch into the soil and water if it is dry even if the soil a couple of inches away from the plant is damp. New plants establish in two to three weeks and the frequency of watering may be reduced or eliminated for plants establishing in the fall or winter.

Watering Established Plants

Let plants tell when they need water by either wilting or turning a bit pale. The information that came with the plant when purchased usually provides insight into its water needs. The frequency of water needed varies as a function of the soil – plants in sandy soil need watering more frequently than plants in clay soil. In addition, plants in shady areas require less frequent supplemental watering than plants living in full sun.

Of course, plants need more water in the summertime. However, plants also need more water when continuous windy conditions dry out the soil. Water plants deeply to encourage root growth. Soaker hoses work more effectively than hose nozzles because water moves slowly down into ground storage. Add about five gallons per ten square feet of bed. Sprinklers for grass often do not put out water long enough to thoroughly water shrubs or trees.

If the landscape uses natural mulch, replace to a depth of two to three inches each year or every other year as the mulch decomposes into the soil.