Water rings should be removed by the end of the second growing season. Apply 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch over the planted area. Mulching helps to eliminate weeds, retain moisture in the soil and moderate soil temperatures. It also helps decrease erosion of raised soil around plants that are planted above the soil level. Some commonly used mulches include pine needles, pine bark and wood chips.
Many plants die from too little or too much water during the first few months after planting.
Plants in well-drained soil often get too little water, and those in poorly drained soil get too much water. Some sites dry out more quickly than others and will require more watering. Good watering practices result in plants that establish more rapidly and thus become more quickly resistant to drought, pests and disease. For further information on watering newly planted shrubs and trees, refer to the fact sheet Watering Shrubs and Trees , HGIC 1056 . Excerpted from the South Carolina Master Gardener Training Manual , EC 678.