The compact barberry does best in garden landscapes without too much moisture stress. Young plants need moderate amounts of moisture throughout the year; even mature plants grow best with regular deep irrigation in the summer. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water, however, this species does best at the higher end of the moisture range.
|
Jan* |
Feb* |
Mar* |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov* |
Dec* |
Runs per Month |
0x to 3x |
0x to 3x |
0x to 3x |
2x to 3x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
2x to 3x |
0x to 3x |
0x to 3x |
Inches per Run |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
|
Inches per Month |
0″ to 3″ |
0″ to 3″ |
0″ to 3″ |
2″ to 3″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
2″ to 3″ |
0″ to 3″ |
0″ to 3″ |
Range of supplemental summer water: 9"-16"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-15"
|
0″-3″ |
0″-3″ |
0″-3″ |
2″-3″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
2″-3″ |
0″-3″ |
0″-3″ |
|
Jan* |
Feb* |
Mar* |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov* |
Dec* |
For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, follow this link.
For information how to calculate your irrigation system’s schedule and precipitation rate, please follow this link.
Prune by cutting back as much of the new-ish growth as desired, and shape to encourage long-term nice form and branching pattern in May (1). Pruning of older stems should always either fully remove them or cut back to 12″ or lower from the ground to maintain the plant’s attractive form.
References