While many gardeners add water to the planting hole before backfilling, I find it unnecessary, and it makes planting too messy. Instead, I water after planting. To create a watering well, I mound a ring of soil around the planting hole's perimeter. To hold in enough water, I make the well at least 1 inch high for every 4 inches of the hole's diameter. For a 36-inch-diameter hole, the well should be 9 inches high. Firming the soil keeps water from breaking through.

After filling the well with water, I let it soak into the soil, and then work the soil around the root ball with the shovel to mix in the composted manure and get rid of any air pockets. If the soil settles, I add more backfill, working it in with a shovel as I go. I fill the well again, and then cover the area inside the well with approximately 2 inches of compost or bark mulch after the water soaks in. Then I fill the well one last time, adding a hormone-based root stimulator to encourage root growth, following product instructions.

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