How often to water laurustinus

The interval

A laurustinus is thirsty for a year or two and mostly looks after itself afterwards. Count on a deep watering about every 7 days through the growing season when there has been no rain, and about every 30 days in winter only if the ground is dry. Growing season means the warm, bright months from spring to early autumn, roughly March to September in the northern hemisphere and September to March in the southern. The Royal Horticultural Society advises watering newly planted viburnums as needed for their first year or two, especially in dry periods.

Check the soil, not the date. Push a trowel blade or a finger 8 to 10 cm down beside the plant. If the soil there is dry and crumbly, water, and if it is cool and holds together, wait. A plant in a large container can be lifted, since a dry container is far lighter than a wet one. The RHS says evergreen viburnums are usually more drought tolerant and do not generally need additional watering once established.

Water slowly and deeply at the base, and then leave the plant alone until the soil has dried. A mulch of bulky organic matter about 5 cm deep, with a mulch-free circle around the stem to prevent rotting, as the RHS advises, holds the moisture in. NC State Extension calls the plant deer, drought and salt tolerant, and says it needs soil with good drainage.

Too much water, or poorly drained soil, invites the leaf spot and armillaria root rot that NC State Extension lists among its diseases. Too little, in a young plant, shows as drooping shoots.

What is particular to this plant is that it flowers through the cold months on buds made the season before. A dry summer is therefore paid for months later, in the flowers, which is why a young laurustinus is watered through its first dry spells even though an old one is not.

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Watering through a southern winter

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