Once planted, a tree needs the right amount of water to establish its roots and begin a long and healthy life. Too little water and the tree will wilt and die, but too much water can drown the roots and kill the tree just as easily. Watering is also dependent upon the season and the amount of rain.
A good watering plan accounts for both the time of year, and the amount of rainfall. The most important thing to remember when watering your tree is that regardless of what method you use to bring water to the tree, watering should be deep, slow and often to ensure that the entire root zone of the tree has been saturated. A fresh bed of mulch no more than 2 inches deep is also valuable for helping the soil hold more water and replenishing the nutrients in the soil.
The best watering system for a newly planted tree is soaker or drip hose. This should be placed in concentric circles around the root zone of the tree. If the trunk of the tree is constantly wet, disease, fungus and other harmful pathogens can get into the trunk of the tree.
The duration of watering depends primarily upon the season. Spring: This is the main growing season for the tree and thus you want to supply the tree with ample water. Look for symptoms of overwatering to verify that this really is the cause of whatever is going on with the tree, including a loss of vigor, yellowing leaves, leaf scorch and water-soaked blisters on the stems and leaves. Dig down several inches into the tree's root zone, in the area between the trunk and the edge of the tree's canopy.
The tree's root zone typically extends out anywhere from 1. Very moist soil at that depth suggests too much water. A sour smell indicates that the soil is oxygen-deprived.
Also, any signs of mushrooms or algae around tree's root zone can indicate a water-logged tree. Stop watering the tree until you determine the cause or causes of the overwatering problem. Generally, overwatering injury is caused by a combination of factors, including heavy soil, poor tree placement and inappropriate watering methods. Compare the water needs of the tree species in question and whether they are being met. While some trees, like river willow and river birch, are happy with "wet feet," many others require well-drained soil.
When making your rounds with customers, always take time to check in on all the foliage in the landscape. If you see trees are going unwatered for long periods of time, talk to your customers about creating a watering schedule.
This is especially important for customers who live in more drought-prone areas or dryer climates. Remember that trees prefer to be watered "deeply" as their roots often extend far down into the soil. If a sprinkler is being run in the yard, the lawn is likely using up that water. Clients may require a soaker hose specifically for watering their trees. When trees are overwatered, they are struggling to breathe because the excess water takes over the air pockets that they previously had.
If you see that a tree is overwatered, just stop watering it temporarily. Give it about a week or so, depending on the severity of the accumulated water, and simply let it dry out.
Before you water it again, do the screwdriver test, and only water the tree where it needs it. Be sure to inspect the trees after it rains to see if and where the water is pooling. And you certainly should — your plants are going to get thirsty in the heat!
But there are other signs, such as fragile leaves and stunted growth at the base, that are a little less obvious. In fact, these issues may also arise from under watering! Lush but brittle leaves is another major indicator that your tree is being overwatered, as opposed to under-watered. You should also check the soil below the surface. We recommend digging about 6 to 8 inches below the surface and feeling it in your hands. The soil should be cool and damp, but not sopping wet.
Saturating the soil with water fills the air pockets that would normally allow for oxygen uptake by the plant roots.
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