Should we water perennials after they finish flowering?

Question

In our first spring and summer in our new house, we discovered dozens of perennial flowers coming up. Before and during flowering, we watered them every other day, or at longer intervals when it rained.

We live at 7400 feet, very dry air, medium hot summer (mid to upper 80s, lows in the 50s), sunny most days, with rare rainfalls.

Question: After the perennials stop flowering and lose their pedals, should we continue to water the plants, or do they need to go dormant or something till the spring?

Bonus question: Two months ago, we planted a young 5-foot high fuji apple tree, also watering every couple of days, several gallons of water each time. It has flourished, growing several inches and sprouting dozens of new leaves.

Given the above climate description, what future watering schedule would you recommend?

Thanks.

Answer 1

They will still need water - the greenery will be storing up energy in the roots/bulbs for use in sprouting again next year. Keep doing what you're doing - if the cycle is working, keep it up.

Answer 2

i would hook up a sprinkler system and water the perennials 2x's a week and the figi every other day (keep up the watering schedule for the tree until late fall, the flowers need less water now they aren't flowering, they need to dry out to save their seeds, unless they are bulbs, if they are bulbs just let them be and weed eat the top of them off, they'll be back next year

Answer 3

Believe me not neccesary and who else can be more experienced except 4 me 4 that.