How are these newly planted lilacs doing?

9 years ago

Planted a pair of minuet lilacs a couple weeks ago, unfortunately we are now in the middle of a major heat wave so it's hard to tell how they are doing. The tough thing is water! Have tried watering them every morning with a water can and then the occasional soaker house once a week. It hasn't rained and it's been hot so I can't tell if they are getting enough water or too much water. Couple that with it being fall some leaves are starting to go yellow. Sign they are in trouble or is it just fall?

Featured Answer

NHBabs z4b-5a NH

9 years ago

The watering can may not be too helpful. To check, water as you have been, and then a few minutes later, check to see how deep the water has penetrated by sticking your finger several inches down into the dirt at the base of the plant. Looking at your photo, with dry mulch right at the base, I'd guess not much is actually getting to the plant's roots. We also don't know how long you are watering with the soaker hose, so check down into the soil after a session with that.

Long slow soaks at the base of the plant that travels down to the plant's roots are going to be more helpful than watering that only penetrates that top inch or so of soil or mulch. You also have to check the original root ball since that is where the plant's roots currently are, and water won't necessarily travel to/from the root ball and the surrounding soil.

One way to water is to take several gallon jugs in a ring around the plant, each with a pinhole an inch or so above the bottom to let water trickle down into the soil. At least that way you have a measure of how much is going onto the soil around the plant.

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Comments (6)

jimbecky48
Original Author
9 years ago
Ok thanks for the tips. In terms of how they are physically looking what do you think?
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
Planted a pair of minuet lilacs a couple weeks ago

==>>> they look severely stressed .. what more do you want to hear ... not only due to the transplant.. but perhaps.. also because they were potted all summer long and not perfectly cared for at the nursery or bigbox ...

they are deciduous ... the leaves will fall off.. probably early.. so what.. its late sept ... and yes.. that might be part of why the leaves are yellowing ...

i would prefer you water.. when the plants need water ... see link .. insert finger and FIND OUT ... but no matter what you do.. you arent going to save or heal those leaves.. and it doesnt matter ... if water is perfected.. then you are all set for NEXT YEAR .... lets focus on that .... see link on watering .... and keep in mind.. temps will be falling incredibly .. and you will cut back significanly on watering ....

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

imo.. lilac are next to impossible to kill ... and odds are ... they will be fine next year .. maybe some pruning of dead stuff..

you were spot on with planting time.. but that witch ma nature didnt play fair ... but thats the Vegas of the gardening ...

ken
jimbecky48 thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
jimbecky48
Original Author
9 years ago
I've done the finger test a few times and the soil always seem pretty moist. When I run the soaker hose it is for quite awhile as it also goes through some cedars. The lilacs are at the end of the hose so they get a little less. Eitherway no match for a good rainfall which I can't remember the last one we had. Couple that with hot temperatures and the blistering sun and they might aswell have been planted in July lol. Oh well guess we will find out next year how they faired. Nice to know lilacs are tough to kill.
Embothrium
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Newly planted stock usually needs frequent hand watered during dry weather - the same as if it was still in the pot - until it roots out well or the weather changes significantly.

Rainfall is not adequate unless it is heavy enough to duplicate hand watering. Hand watering as in dragging a house and giving each plant a good dousing, that gets water to the entire existing root ball or mass. Again as though it was still in a pot. And preferably using a water breaker, to produce a gentle shower.

For the benefit of 50 years of experience in the subject area click on Establishment of Container Grown Plants in the column on the right.

https://rootmaker.com/knowledge-center
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
if the soil is moist.. at depth .. then there is nothing more to do.. except quit worrying about it ...

as i said.. those leaves are not going to recover by drowning the plant .. and it doesnt matter ...

i presume you have properly draining soil.. that allows excess to move away.. as compared to a ceramic clay planting hole ... and its sitting in water ...

ken