Watering Trees
During periods of high temperature, and low rainfall dehydration will always occur in trees. This is the time when a property owner has to step up and water their trees more often. There are a wide variety of variables that dictate how much water a tree needs. First the age of the tree, its species, the climate, the type of soil, and the current season will always be the most important factors. A common guideline is that young trees will always need more consistent watering than their mature counterparts. During the first 4 months of a young tree’s planting you want to make sure the soil is consistently moist. As time goes on and the crown of the tree grows you can expand the area around the tree that you water.
If you live in an area with high temperatures and drought you want to make sure your tree is watered at least 3 times per week. The best way to inspect soil near the roots for moisture is to use a long tool to pierce the ground. A screwdriver that is at least 7-8 inches in length will do the job well. If it goes into the soil with ease it means the soil is moist. If you push it down into the soil and it can’t go the whole way down, or it requires extreme effort it means the soil is dry.
