Watering with a Sprinkler on a Hose in Clay to Clay Loam Soils, or Hard/Compacted Soils

This is where you take a small hose like the one pictured, attach it to a hose and place it at the base of where you want to water the tree/shrub. For clay to clay-loam soils, the soil feels fine, smooth, dense and seems to hold water easily. The following chart based on daytime temperature will help give you a guide on how often and long to run a small sprinkler on a hose. The wind is another factor that can change things.  When in doubt, you need to dig down 8 inches for shrubs/perennials and 12 inches for trees with a shovel, trowel or use a soil probe to make sure you are soaking in deep enough.

-50˚F or less once a month for evergreens; check every two months for deciduous plants. Soak for 30 minutes.
-50 to 70˚F deep soak once every two weeks when foliage is on the trees. Soak for 30 minutes.
-70 to 85˚F deep soak twice a week for 30 minutes.
-85 to 95˚F deep soak three times a week for 30 minutes.
-Above 95˚F, soak four times a week for 30 minutes.



If your soil is prone to runoff before 30 minutes, break the 30 minutes into 2 or 3 sets of running and soaking with an hour between soakings. Water Bags may be easier to work with, or a smart hose timer may be used.

Add one extra water interval per windy day over 85 degrees F with winds over 20 miles per hour.