if you cant get a finger in.... use a small hand trowel.. or sharpen a tablespoon from the dollar store ... and dig into the root ball planted.. and also the surrounding soil .. 3 to 6 inches deep .. AND FIND OUT ABOUT MOISTURE ...

the key.. is to get moisture down to root level ... is the important part ..repeatedly watering the soil surface.. which always looks dry ... is not the key ....

once you get moisture down a few inches .... you really shouldnt need to be watering very often ... soil just doesnt dry down 3 to 6 inches.. all that fast ... especially if you have a mulch ....

and of course.. as fall rolls in.. watering can be cut back ... as.. again.. the soil just wont be drying all that fast ... unless of course.. you now tell me you live in the desert ... or some such ... location usually matters ...

ken

Most meters are highly inaccurate, typically due to cost or because they have not been properly calibrated to the material being monitored.

Like ken, I favor physically testing the soil yourself. After a season or two it is pretty easy to determine how much water is adequate for good, heathy growth and root development.

Thanks. Oh, well, I thought it was worth asking. I have 21 new shrubs so far and I was looking for an easier and quicker way to check deeper in the root ball. They’re all properly planted and mulched.