How to water newly planted shrubs

For the first two weeks, check daily. After that, keep checking at least weekly and more often in drying weather. This follows Maryland Extension's monitoring advice; your plant, soil and climate determine whether each check leads to watering.^{1Source 1Watering Trees and ShrubsUniversity of Maryland Extension}

Don't automatically skip a check because it rained. A brief shower may wet the mulch without soaking the root ball. Likewise, lawn sprinklers may miss a shrub or keep part of the bed too wet. Check the plant's actual soil rather than counting every rainy day as a watering.^{2Source 2Watering Newly Planted Trees and ShrubsUniversity of Minnesota Extension,3Source 3Planting Trees and ShrubsOklahoma State University Extension}

For drip irrigation, check where the water actually lands. A tidy line beside the shrubs isn't enough if it misses the original root balls. Keep checking both the original roots and the neighboring soil as the plants grow.^{4Source 4Planting Trees and Shrubs in the LandscapeWashington State University Extension,1Source 1Watering Trees and ShrubsUniversity of Maryland Extension}

A shallow mulch layer helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. Move it aside when checking moisture so you can feel the soil underneath.^{5Source 5Mulching Trees and ShrubsUniversity of Maryland Extension}

Keep looking after the shrub beyond its first summer. Establishment takes time: Minnesota estimates at least two growing seasons for shrubs there. A drought-tolerant label describes what a plant can handle once established, not permission to let a newly planted root ball dry out.^{2Source 2Watering Newly Planted Trees and ShrubsUniversity of Minnesota Extension}

If you're adding more shrubs, group the next planting around compatible light and water needs. Photograph the bed while you can still see its edges and open spaces; those details make the next design easier to plan.