Landscaping

Summer Watering: Helping Your Landscape Thrive Through the Heat

Summer Watering: Helping Your Landscape Thrive Through the Heat

As we enter July, the peak of summer is arriving and this heat can wreak havoc on a young landscape. Here are some tips to help your landscape thrive through the summer heat!

Quick Summary

  • Water new plants deeply every other day for the first 2–3 weeks, then as needed.
  • Water at the base, early morning or a few hours before sundown – never in peak heat or late at night.
  • Check soil moisture with your finger before watering.
  • Native plants and drip irrigation reduce long-term stress.

Understanding Plant Growing Cycles

This is what we call the 3 year cycle. In year one, the plants are getting acclimated to their new environment. New exposure, new soils, new neighbors. Plants will spend the first year focusing their energy on survival and adaptation as they get used to their new home. Remember, new plants are dug from the grower, potted and transported to us to be installed at your home. This is a lot for a new plant to endure!

Year two is where the plants really start to get comfortable in new surroundings. During this time they focus their energy on pushing out new roots, deeper and wider, anchoring themselves into their permanent home. This process, while not visible to us, sets the stage for the excitement to come. Proper watering and fertilization are integral to the plants at this stage.

Year three is when the waiting and the work starts to pay off. You will see denser foliage, more profuse blooms and moderate growth as the plants start to fill out their space! This growth is a result of the previous year’s spent strengthening and acclimating to their new environment.

During this entire process, proper care and watering is a crucial step to ensuring that your plants flourish and are properly nourished throughout the growth cycle.

While watering is a very frequent task immediately after installation, ongoing watering within the 3 year cycle and beyond is a key to long term success.

How often should I water plants in the summer?

At Arborvine, we provide detailed care instructions for everything we install including watering instructions for plants. These instructions outline how to water, when to water and how to tell if your plants need more or less water. Smaller plants such as perennials are naturally more sensitive to heat, especially when newly installed, and they benefit from close attention in their first season. Larger trees and shrubs are much more durable, but do require more water to survive.

Oftentimes, in the summer our area can be placed in a drought watch (as we are currently in July of 2026). Watering properly is not only beneficial to your plants, but it helps to conserve water too!

General Watering Instructions

Follow these steps to water your new plantings correctly through the first few weeks and beyond:

  1. Start with our deep initial watering. All plantings are installed with a premium starter fertilizer, and our crews perform the first deep watering — saturating the root area thoroughly. If the crew is unable to complete it, we’ll notify you to perform a deep watering the same day the plants are installed.

  2. Water deeply, every other day. For deep watering, every-other-day is recommended. Roots search for deeper water when you water this way; daily short spurts keep roots shallow at the surface.

  3. Always water at the base of the plant. Watering the foliage leads to burns, disease, and fungus that can spread and kill tender plants.

  4. Time it right — early morning or a few hours before sundown. Avoid watering in peak heat (water evaporates before it hydrates the plant) and avoid watering too late at night (encourages insects and mildew).

  5. Follow this schedule for the first 2–3 weeks, then water as needed. After the establishment window, water on an as-needed basis, paying special attention to extreme heat, prolonged dry weather, and signs of stress — wilt, leaf drop, yellowing, or excessively dry soil.

  6. Give trees and shrubs extra attention. They have higher water requirements while establishing, so plan to spend more time watering them.

  7. Use the watering bags on larger trees. Larger trees are equipped with 15-gallon watering bags. Fill them every other day for the first 2–3 weeks, then as needed. The bags deliver the right amount of water and cut down on manual watering time.

  8. Remove watering bags before winter.

How do I know if my plants need water?

The best way to check that your plants are receiving the appropriate amount of water within the first few weeks is by simply pulling away the mulch from a small area near the base of the plant. Stick your finger in the soil & if it is damp/moist then you do not need to water. If the soil feels dry, you should water at the next available appropriate time.

What do Overwatered vs. underwatered plants look like?

If you notice yellowing on the foliage of your plants, take a look before watering! If the foliage is limp, soft & droopy this is a sign of overwatering! If the foliage is crispy, dry & brittle, this is a sign of underwatering, so you should water again at the next available appropriate time!

Solution

While summer can be stressful on new plants and homeowners with newly installed landscapes, there are several considerations and steps to take when planning your landscape. Many of these items can be incorporated into existing landscapes, too!

Native Plantings

The use of native plants has many benefits, which is another great former blog topic to revisit. Beyond their pollinator-friendly nature and disease resistance, natives are perfectly acclimated to our local climate – giving your landscape an added layer of strength against the intensity of hot, dry Delaware and Pennsylvania summers. This doesn’t eliminate the need for watering, but it builds resilience into the design from day one.

And a native palette never limits your vision. The vibrancy of native perennials, the range of native shrubs and trees, and the unique textures of native grasses give our designers an extraordinary range to work with. Designed and installed professionally, a native palette can become the most striking, effortless landscape in your neighborhood – a private paradise that looks refined in every season while asking less of you to maintain it. 

Incorporating Trees

Including trees in your landscape design is not only a great way to provide height, dimension and additional structure to your landscape, while these are all great benefits. The key aspect here is that large trees can provide full or filtered shade to the shrubs and perennial plants below them. This can make all the difference when that summer heat rolls around. Placing these trees in a manner that compliments the landscape, provides privacy and shelters the surrounding plants at the right time is a huge benefit! Our designers will always survey the sun during consultations to see where the exposure is the strongest and ensure trees are spaced at the right spot to filter the landscape.

While trees do require the most amount of water up front, they are usually more mature than shrubs and perennials leading to a quicker establishment process. The upfront time spent watering and investment into the trees can pay dividends for the long term appearance and longevity of the landscape!

Drip Irrigation

For homeowners investing in a landscape meant to be enjoyed for years, drip irrigation is one of the most elegant ways to protect that investment. It can be integrated into an existing landscape or built into a new design from the start, with small tubing looped discreetly around trees and shrubs before mulching – completely out of sight. Controlled by a timer or an app, watering becomes effortless. Premium systems even adjust automatically, increasing water during extreme heat and scaling back or pausing during rain and cooler temperatures.

Drip irrigation doesn’t replace the deep hand-watering a new landscape needs in its first few weeks, but as your plants mature it removes the daily guesswork – delivering the consistent, resort-quality care that keeps a private-paradise landscape looking its best with virtually no effort on your part.

With the right planning, care and maintenance your landscape will thrive even in the hottest of Delaware & Pennsylvania summers! Educating our clients of the best practices, available techniques and tricks is our goal. We take immense pride in installing and maintaining fine landscapes throughout the area and strive to provide the tools and expertise to keep them looking breathtaking!

FAQs

Your questions, answered.

How often should I water new plants in the summer

Water new plants deeply every other day for the first 2–3 weeks after installation, then on an as-needed basis. Deep, every-other-day watering encourages roots to grow downward in search of moisture, while daily short spurts keep roots shallow and vulnerable to summer heat.

Water in the early morning or a few hours before sundown - never in peak heat or late at night. Peak-heat watering evaporates before it hydrates the plant, and watering too late at night encourages insects, mildew, and fungus. 

Pull back the mulch near the base of the plant and stick your finger in the soil. If it feels damp or moist, you don't need to water. If it feels dry, water at the next appropriate time - early morning or a few hours before sundown.

Check the foliage before watering. Limp, soft, and droopy foliage is a sign of overwatering. Crispy, dry, and brittle foliage is a sign of underwatering - in that case, water again at the next appropriate time.

Larger trees are equipped with 15-gallon watering bags that should be filled every other day for the first 2–3 weeks, then as needed. Trees require more water than shrubs and perennials while establishing, but they typically establish faster because they're more mature at installation.

Yes. Tree watering bags should be removed before winter to protect the tree and the bag through the cold season.

Native plants are acclimated to the local Delaware and Pennsylvania climate, giving them added resilience against hot, dry summers. They still require proper watering while establishing, but they build strength and drought tolerance into your landscape from the start.

Planning a new landscape or drip irrigation install?
Schedule a Consultation
(302) 502-5605

Why You Should Consider a Landscape Maintenance Package for Your Home

Did you know Arborvine Landscaping maintains nearly every luxury landscape and outdoor living space we installed since our beginning? In addition to offering world-class landscape design and construction services, we provide one of the most effective and proven landscape maintenance programs in the region. Here’s why you should consider a landscape maintenance package for your home.

1. Custom Maintenance Plan for Your Property

Our experts will create a customized plan tailored to your property, desired frequency, preferences, and your budget. With plans ranging from one to four visits annually, we make it effortless to keep your landscape and outdoor living areas looking their best all season long. This is not your run-of-the-mill maintenance program. We get down to the finest details, including adjusting landscape lighting fixtures as plants mature & programming irrigation system timers based on the time of year, and cleaning out drainage outlets and collection areas regularly. An Arborvine maintenance plan leaves no stone unturned!

2. Site Familiarity and Consistent Crews

If your installation was done by us, we send the same crew that completed the install to provide the annual maintenance services. This establishes an unbeatable familiarity with the property – and with you as a homeowner – allowing our crew to fully understand the extent of the property and the clients. When we complete our custom landscape installs, we first educate our team members on the client’s objectives and visions for the project, followed by an introduction on site. Through our maintenance plans, this turns into a long-term relationship, allowing our crew members to see their work thrive and grow each year while our clients come to expect familiar faces keeping their landscape beautiful!

3. Extended Plant Warranties with a Maintenance Package

As our clients know, Arborvine Landscaping offers one of the strongest plant warranties in the industry. We stand behind what we build and what we plant. We are able to offer this due to the countless hours of hands-on training and education we provide our team. This investment ensures we use the best planting techniques in addition to sourcing our plant material from only the finest growers! With a qualifying landscape maintenance package from Arborvine Landscaping, you become eligible for an extended warranty on plants installed by us. Our warranties remain valid for each year that a client signs a consecutive maintenance contract with us.

Luxury Landscaping

4. Expert Oversight From Your Designer

Another benefit to our maintenance packages is regular professional oversight by our professional consultants. Typically, all maintenance visits begin with a walk-through of the property to evaluate the current condition of plant material, landscape beds, and other key areas of your outdoor living space . This means that the landscape designer is getting regular eyes on the property to inspect all aspects of the landscape. This allows for special adjustments to be made as needed to maintain top-tier results. For  example, if a shrub is damaged coming out of winter, our consultants can authorize additional pruning or fertilization to bring that plant to life or authorize a replacement. This is just one more way our maintenance packages provide the high level of service and quality that our clients expect.

If you are looking for peace of mind when it comes to keeping your landscape and outdoor living areas looking great, consider a landscape maintenance plan for your property! At Arborvine, we make it easy and enjoyable to maintain your landscape and ensure your outdoor space thrives in every season!

Ready to protect your investment and keep your property looking its best?

Contact Arborvine Landscaping to learn more about our landscape maintenance services and request a custom maintenance package for your home.

Still unsure?

Your questions, answered.

How often should my landscape be professionally maintained?

Most Arborvine clients choose between two and four professional maintenance visits per year, depending on the size of the property, the complexity of the planting design, and how polished they want the space to look from season to season. A custom maintenance package can be tailored to your property’s specific needs instead of forcing you into a one-size-fits-all schedule.

A typical package can include plant and bed care, seasonal pruning, landscape lighting adjustments, irrigation timer programming, drainage outlet cleaning, and detailed inspections of your outdoor living areas. The goal is to protect your investment by keeping both the softscape plantings and hardscape elements performing and looking their best.

Landscape maintenance packages are primarily designed for properties where Arborvine completed the original landscape or outdoor living installation, which gives the crew deep familiarity with the site and design intent. In some cases, Arborvine may be able to maintain existing high-end landscapes; an on‑site consultation can determine whether the property is a good fit.

With a qualifying landscape maintenance package including three or more annual visits,, you may be eligible for extended warranties on trees & shrubs  installed by Arborvine, as long as you sign consecutive maintenance contracts each year. Because the team is actively monitoring and caring for the plantings, Arborvine can confidently stand behind their health and performance over a longer period.

During scheduled maintenance visits, Arborvine’s consultants and designers walk the property and can identify early signs of drainage concerns, grading issues, or lighting adjustments needed as plants mature. When something more complex is uncovered, they can recommend additional services or phased improvements to prevent small issues from becoming major repairs.

The best time to set up your maintenance package is late winter through early spring, before the growing season starts and schedules fill up. Planning early ensures you secure preferred dates and allows Arborvine to prepare your property to look its best from spring through fall.

Let's Talk Maintenance Plans
Schedule a Consultation
(302) 502-5605

Spring Showers, Meet Your Match: 5 Native Plants for Wet Yards

April Showers are upon us, and while they do bring May flowers, they can also bring wet yards! However, there are some plants that can help keep your landscape dry during those April showers. Check out our list of the top 5 native plants that will keep your yard dry this April!

Spring is a common time for Arborvine’s professional consultants to get called out to properties for drainage concerns. If you are seeing water pooling in your yard, getting into your home or causing erosion, you may need a professional site visit from our team to engineer a plan & solution. However, if you are simply looking for a way to help dry your yard up quicker, this list is for you! Arborvine installs a lot of engineered rain gardens, which are retention areas for water that are planted with carefully curated species & cultivars that don’t mind wet feet. These native plants are tried & tested to tolerate these conditions & may be a great addition to your home’s landscape!

1. Button Bush

A beautiful Delaware native shrub that has fragrant, white flowers during the summer months. This shrub is sure to attract your favorite pollinators! Buttonbush thrives in damp areas & can even handle mild pooling of water! A great choice as a foundation shrub or specimen feature!

2. Cardinal Flower

A naive perennial that tolerates full sun to partial shade. Use this perennial in a damp area and watch the vibrant flowers that produce stunning red spikes. The best part, these flowers are guaranteed to attract hummingbirds! A must have in a Delaware native landscape!

3. Winterberry

One of Arborvine’s favorite native shrubs to incorporate into our designs! A member of the holly family, this plant has smooth green leaves that shimmer in the summer sun. With cultivars maturing at multiple different sizes, this versatile plant can find a home in almost any landscape! The best part, in the winter, this plant stays true to its name offering one of a kind winter interest! Stunning red berries will remain vibrant all winter long. The perfect pop of color in a serene, snow covered winter landscape! Plus you may find one of your favorite birds snacking on the berries!

4. Joe Pye Weed

A unique perennial that can be used for meadows & perennial gardens. In late summer you can expect large, dusky pink flower heads which are butterfly magnets! Place this plant in a damp area and the roots will thrive! You may find this perennial lining one of Arborvines exquisite rock swales or dry creek beds throughout Delaware & Pennsylvania.

5. Swamp Rose Mallow

A true stunner to add color, texture & movement to your landscape! A mid to late summer bloomer with large, showy pink & white flowers. If you love color, this is a great naive perennial for you. Rose Mallow is not phased by damp soil conditions & will use this excess moisture to grow & thrive!

As April showers continue, the right plant choices can make a meaningful difference in how your landscape handles excess water. Incorporating native, moisture-tolerant plants is a simple and effective way to support better drainage while enhancing the beauty and ecological value of your yard. If you’re dealing with persistent pooling, erosion, or water making its way toward your home, Arborvine’s team is here to help. From thoughtfully designed rain gardens to fully engineered drainage solutions, we work with you every step of the way to create a landscape that performs as well as it looks.

Reach out today to schedule a consultation and get your property ready for the seasons ahead.

Ready to Start Planning Your Outdoor Living Space?

If you’re considering a design-build outdoor project and want clarity on scope, timeline, budget, and next steps:

Plan Your Outdoor Living Project
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  • Property evaluation and design possibilities discussion
  • Preliminary budget guidance
  • Timeline and process overview
  • Next steps if we're a mutual fit!
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