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HOW TO WATER TREES Use these guidelines to properly water both newly planted and established trees. Newly Planted Trees These need to be watered within the root ball or rooting zone for 2 years after planting. The soil should be wet to the bottom of the root ball then allowed to dry before applying more water. The first 20 days are critical to the survival of the tree. Don't let the rooting zone go completely dry during this time. The tree needs five to ten gallons of water twice a week depending on soil type. After 2 years, begin to expand your watering area to keep up with the expanding root system. After several years you should not be watering at or near the trunk of the tree. If you built a watering berm at planting, remove it so you won't be tempted to water the tree within the original rooting zone. Remember, it is important to water the whole area around the tree. Water moves through clay soils much slower than sandy soils. Know your soil and adjust the water frequency for your particular soil type. Mature Trees Water established trees deeply (16-24 inches) every two to three weeks during the dry season. Don't water mature trees every two or three days for 15 to 20 minutes with a water nozzle. This encourages shallow rooting near the surface and, worse, the water doesn't penetrate deeply enough into the soil. To water, first cover the outer two-thirds under the tree canopy. Then, if you can afford it, water the area that extends 5 feet to 8 feet beyond the canopy. This means that if your tree has a 30 foot canopy, the outer two-thirds means a 628 square foot area. You'll need to go to a depth of 12 inches. That's about 470 gallons of water. Don't water again until the soil is slightly moist but not wet. A good way to check is to grab a handful of soil and squeeze it. If the soil stays together and small cracks form in the soil ball, it's time to water again. If you can't form a soil ball then it is definitely time to water. However, if you can squeeze free water from the soil, let it dry out more. Put down a 3-4 inch layer of mulch over the root zone and you'll considerably retard evaporation thereby extending the time between waterings. Remember, the hotter it is, the more water the tree needs to stay in good condition but during the summer wet season, one inch of rain will wet the soil to a depth of 10 inches. But, if you get only two-tenths inch of water it won't be enough to properly water a mature tree. A rain gauge is a reliable monitor. The Dormant Season Trees still transpire and require water during the dormant season. However, starting in the fall cut back watering to once a month until spring. Trees need at least one inch per month whether from nature or a watering system. Don't water while the soil is frozen. Wait until the soil can absorb the moisture.
Jim Freeman is a Certified Arborist and the owner of Tree Technologies ~ 505-466-3171 |
