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Watering Newly Planted TreesYourTreeSource It is the initial watering after planting that often determines whether a new tree will succeed or fail. This water is most effective if it applied within the first day of planting. Usually everything will be all right if it is done within five days as long as the water is applied properly. The initial watering rehydrates the tree roots and puts moisture in the surround soil for future use. It is the most important watering a tree will receive. See my article "Watering Basics", which discusses how deeply and how slowly to thoroughly water your tree. Now it is just a matter of how frequently to water. My rule is once a week for the first three weeks and then each successive watering is one week later, up to three months. This means you water the first second and third weeks, and then on the fifth, eighth and twelfth weeks. This gives the tree six good waterings in the first three months. During this time, pay attention to the weather. You do not need to water if your area is receiving an average of an inch or more of rainfall a week. Exception: If you have just planted a conifer, i.e. spruce or pine forget this rule - they tend to shed water. You will need to water these trees once a week for the first three weeks even if there is rain. After three weeks, stick the schedule I have suggested.
All this information is useless if you do not listen to the weather and occasionally inspect your plants. This is not only common sense, but part of the pleasure of planting them. Did your area just receive a passing summer thunderstorm that dumped a lot of water but nothing soaked into the ground, or was it a half-day shower that soaked the soil. Are the leaves wilting? Has it been two weeks since you watered? Are the leaf edges scorching or browning? Is it only the side of the tree closest to last week's bonfire?
Here are a few more facts to consider. All trees require at least one year establishing a self-supporting root system. A drought tolerant tree is able to tolerate droughts only after it is established in the ground. The establishment period is lengthy. One to three years is not uncommon. If the tree encounters a drought during this time, you will need to water. Dirt is what we get our our clothes and wash off your hands, but trees are planted into the earth, ground and soil. When you are planting a tree, you have the world in your hands.
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