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Watering BasicsYourTreeSource Water is a basic need for all trees, but the amount of water each individual tree needs varies. Some trees have the ability to tolerate drought while others seem to grow right out of the water. Trees cultural requirements determine how much water a tree needs during the course of a year. The one requirement all trees share is proper water after planting. Proper watering is very easy if a couple of simple rules are followed:
I have read many handouts, pamphlets, magazines and how-to books, but the information about watering is often confusing. For instance, they suggest that you do not over water because it may drown the roots, yet if you under water, the roots dry up. Or that you should pull the mulch away from the tree and feel the soil. If it is wet, do not water. Okay, but what if the soils feels dry but deeper down in the the ground the earth is still wet? Remember what I said above --it is easier to add water than remove it. This means that if we are going to err, we should err on the dry side. The purpose behind watering is not only to keep the tree alive, but also to help it establish roots. If the tree is kept slightly on the dry side, roots will grow into the ground seeking the moisture they need. We help the tree with water by giving it what it wants but very little extra. We meet the immediate need and nothing else. We do this by allowing the intervals between watering to become longer. This o encourages root development. Apply water slowly. If you use a hose, allow the water to run at a trickle. An ideal situation would be to apply a green 'tree bag' around the trunk that has holes that allows water to slowly seep out. If you must water with a bucket make sure you have a good saucer or depression dug around the tree to catch the water and hold it. Apply water deeply. Allow water from the hose to run for hours on your tree. My rule is four hours per caliper inch of trunk. For example, an 8-10ft tall tree is about 1-1 12" caliper. That would be four hours of trickling hose. Most people in the horticultural trade will refer to caliper size, because that is how trees are measured for selling. Another example would be if you just planted street trees and put two water bags on each. That would be 7 1/2 gallons each and would equal 8 hours of water at a slow trickle. |
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