Some might think that the rain provides enough water for their trees. But how about when the weather is dry, or the tree is still young? Proper maintenance and watering can make a whole lot of difference in the health and survival of trees. However, to determine the amount of water that your tree needs, you have to consider several components such as the tree’s age and species, weather, soil type and even the time of the year when you plan to have it.
At Ballarat Arborist, our team strives to find solutions that will help our clients maintain the health of their trees. That is why our team have gathered some of the best practices you should consider to help the trees on your property have a long and healthy life.
Why Is Water Essential for Trees?
When the available water in the soil where the trees are planted becomes limited, it can be a lot harder for the trees to strive and grow. Young and newly planted trees face a higher risk of drought stress since they do not have a broad root system yet. When the soil becomes dry, it will put a strain on the trees because the ground becomes tough, and oxygen production will also be affected.
Since the trees need water to perform two essential functions: photosynthesis and transpiration, you should note how to properly water your trees. They need water to synthesize food and move the nutrients on the other parts of the tree, so when the tree is not receiving enough water, there will be no photosynthesis and nutrient transfer. When this happens, there will be a great chance that the tree will die.
Tips to Remember When Watering Trees
For Newly Planted Trees
If you have just planted the tree for the first several months, its roots are still within the root ball, while some of it will begin to grow around the area. That is why it is essential to keep the root ball and its surrounding area moist to improve the root growth of the young tree. After a growing season, you can expand the watering zone to cover the area where the tree’s roots have grown. When the tree is not yet established, it is crucial to provide supplemental watering, especially if nature does not give its regular soaking rains. You can water your young trees as often as three times a week when the weather is dry and hot.
For Established Trees
When your trees are well established already, it is essential to note that their roots can typically extend beyond the canopy or drip line and reach deep into the soil. So, when you are watering an established tree, it is best to provide deep and soaking irrigation on the canopy area and several feet beyond it to ensure that you can adequately water the tree. Besides that, you should not water around the trunk area directly because it can potentially cause rot in the long run.
How to Properly Water Trees
Some homeowners may prefer overhead sprinklers because they can conveniently cover large areas. However, its downside is that the water from overhead sprinklers can easily evaporate before it even reaches the tree’s roots. Our team recommends using a soaker hose because it is porous and can release water slowly at the soil level. You can just lay the hose around the soil where your tree is planted and let the water run for an hour or more.