watering - TrimHedge

Topiaries are a wonderful way to add some greenery to your home or garden. But how often should you water them? The trickiest thing about watering topiary plants is that the plant itself can't tell you it's thirsty. That's what makes it difficult: You don't want to over-water your plant and kill it, but you also don't want to skip a single watering cycle and be left with nothing—or worse yet have dead flowers or branches.. To know if your topiary needs watering, you have to watch for these signs: The leaves will droop and turn yellow/brown or curl up at the edges when they are too dry, as if wilting from heat.If the soil around the base of the plant stem starts to crack - this means your topiary needs more water! Because there are two broad types of topiary - indoor and outdoor - this article will cover each one separately. ©Deborah Zoe Photography for Les Fleurs, Andover Indoor topiaries should be watered every two to three days, depending on the size of your plants and the humidity in your home. If you don't have any idea how often they need watering because of a lack of natural light or if it's ever been really hot inside, chances are that these types will need water more often than usual. Indoor potted plants typically need less frequent watering than outdoor containers because most of their roots are contained within a pot which will retain moisture better than if the plant is in the ground. With indoor plants, the risk of over watering is higher, so you should water them when the soil begins to feel dry. If you're watering a topiary plant that's inside the house, use only clean water to avoid harming your plants. Use a spray bottle to water the plants from above if they are small. We have a ton of indoor topiary tips in our handy guide, so don't forget to check that out! Outdoor topiaries can take much longer between waterings - as long as an entire week or even more for some types. You should aim to water them once every week, but if they're in an area that gets direct sunlight, you might want to water them more often than that. The best time to water your topiary is in the morning, when it's cool outside. You should also avoid watering your plants during the heat of the day, because they'll lose more moisture than if you wait until evening or early morning. If it rains a lot in your area, you can cut back on the frequency of watering. For bigger outdoor plants water with a hose or sprinkler on its leaves and branches; You will want to avoid watering your topiary plant at its base as this can cause rot that may lead to death of your plant! The most important thing to know about watering your topiary is the type of soil it has: clay, loam, peat moss, sand or other types of soil will require different amounts of water. What tools should you use to water your topiary plants? Indoor topiary can be adequately watered with a spray bottle. For outdoor plants you can use a watering can, with a sprinkler rose attached to water most plants, unless you have really large topiary plants, in which case you might need a bigger and more powerful sprayer. What happens if you over-water your topiary? Over watering will cause root rot and kill the plant because the roots won't be able to take up enough oxygen from the soil. You should only give them an inch or two of water every time you spray. However, remember that over-watered topiaries can grow too quickly and may not be able to maintain themselves if they don't receive enough nutrients in their diet. Do different plants need different amounts of water? The simple answer is yes - evergreen plants, for example, usually require more water than deciduous plants, and succulent plants require less because they store moisture in their leaves and branches. How often should you feed your topiary? Topiaries need to be fed twice a year, in the spring and autumn. You can use either organic fertilizer or slow-release fertilizer pellets. We advise you to use a fertiliser specifically designed for topiary. This will reduce any risk of over-feeding that can be caused by some other types of fertilizer, which is very important as too much nutrition might damage your plant's health. It'll also help if you're unsure how often to feed your plants. Feeding the right amount means ensuring that the leaves remain green and healthy looking, while avoiding yellow or brown patches from an overdose; it should not leave wet spots on the soil around its roots after watering either! If this starts happening then cut back on feeding until they recover their color. However, remember than when overwatered, topiaries may grow unusually quickly but without adequate nutrients in their diet they'll eventually weaken. If all this seems overwhelming, and you're not sure how much to water your plant each day then try this one tip: keep an eye on the colour and texture of the soil; if it's dry at the surface but moist below then it doesn't need more water yet; if there's no moisture in either layer then give it a good drink. Follow these watering tips to ensure your topiary remains healthy all year. Want More Topiary Tips?