Question
QUESTION: I am looking to purchase this type of plant to go in the back of a bed at the front of my house. They are replacing sawara blue cypress that have fried.  I have a hard time determining the correct water amount to give evergreens, especially when it is a lower growing rounded shrub that is close to the ground.   It has been extremely hot 100+.  I am looking to plant 2 gal shrubs.  What is a normal range of water (in gallons) that I should expect to be giving these when there is no rain?  THANK YOU!!!

ANSWER: I would water if the soil under the trees is dry down a couple of inches deep. Then try to water only once or twice a week. Too much water is as bad for evergreens as too little. I would say about a gal of water at a time should be enough to wet the soil around the roots. DO NOT plant these trees until the Fall after the hardwood trees have dropped their leaves. Then dig the holes twice the size of the containers and as deep and much around the trees with not more than 3 inches deep  of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. This will help hold the moisture around the roots. Do not fertilize for the first year.

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QUESTION: ok... so I already have them (purchased last night), and they are in 3 gallon containers.  It is so hot that I don't think I have much choice in planting them.  The pots will not stay hydrated in these conditions.  Any pointers?  Also, typically shrubs are planted at the same level of depth as the soil within the container (so that the soils are even with one another).  Should this be the same for these shrubs as well?  Thanks again!!

Answer
This is the worst time of the year to plant a tree or shrub. Dig the hole twice the size of the 3 gal pot and plant so that the top of the soil in the pot is even with the ground surface. Fill with good top soil or potting soil. Mulch around the plants and water with the gal of water every other day for a couple of weeks then every third day for a couple of weeks then if the weather is cooler once a week. If it rains I would skip the   watering time. You can expect that you will get some foliage browning from the heat and the stress of planting now. I would check with the nursery you bought the plants from and ask what their guarantee is so IF the plants die you can get a replacement. Good luck!