Proper watering of newly planted
trees is absolutely essential for maximum growth, root
development, and overall health. The primary
considerations are frequency of watering and volume per
application. Frequency can be simple by following a
weekly routine, and if you throw in a periodic soil
moisture audit you will be on your way to healthy trees
and peace of mind.
Quantity per application depends on who you ask,
but size of the tree is the most important
consideration. Most newly planted trees will have a root
well of about five cubic feet, and considering that the
average soil type absorbs about one gallon of water per
cubic foot, five to six gallons should be
adequate. Only self-contained methods provide a way to
monitor quantity anyway, so if you're using a hose
method you'll also need a timer and flow rate. Don't
make the mistake of expecting lawn irrigation
systems to take care of your trees. By design, they only
cover the top few inches of soil.
Watering methods include open hose, soaker hose,
drip-irrigation, and root feeders. Each method has at
least one strength, and understanding all of them will
help you make the best choice for your
situation. Any method that requires a garden hose
during application may be
fine for less than three trees, but take too long for
more. Self-contained drip bags can be fast for
multiple trees, but they are more expensive and sized
for larger trees. Self-contained root
feeders combine the root well accuracy of a hose-fed root feeder
with the time saving benefits of drip bags.
Click on any of the links below to learn more about each
watering method. |
