TREE WATERING GUIDE FOR FALL PLANTED TREES
By MaryAnn Fink
Conservation Specialist
Copyright 2010
Water is the most important thing for a new tree. All plants need to be watered for at least the first full year, the first 3 summers and in times of prolong drought.
By MaryAnn Fink
Conservation Specialist
Copyright 2010
Water is the most important thing for a new tree. All plants need to be watered for at least the first full year, the first 3 summers and in times of prolong drought.
The following is a suggested guide for how to water a deciduous tree planted in the fall- particularly this fall 2010 which has been so dry! (Deciduous trees are trees that lose their leaves! Typically all leaves have been shed before planting day)
Please note that these are just my guidelines based on a few of Frisella Nursery's suggestions and with my own explainations and recommendations. Adjustments may still have to be made depending on your specific site and soil-check with me via my website if you have any questions.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL FALL PLANTED TREES NEED TO BE WATERED BEFORE PLANTING AND AGAIN WITHIN THE FIRST 24 HOURS OF WHEN THEY ARE PLANTED REGARDLESS OF HOW WET THE GROUND.
THIS IS TO REMOVE LARGE AIR VOIDS IN THE SURROUNDING SOIL AND BALANCE THE MOISTURE BETWEEN THE NEW SOIL and SITE AND THE ESTABLISHED ROOT BALL / ZONE.
The time between watering after the initial watering will vary depending on your soil, so checking the trees about every 5-7 days is recommended.
The best way to check is to actually dig down about 8 to 10" along the side of the root ball (or about 8-10” away from the trunk). Check the soil of the root ball at that depth; if wet do not water but go ahead and recheck again the next day,
If dry water the tree again and then keep checking the tree about every 5 days, and if slightly moist check in 7 days again. After several times of checking a schedule develops and you know about how long it takes for your tree to dry.
During the fall, the roots are still active and so still need moisture but the quantity is less than when the tree is leafing out in the spring and during the summer when it is maintaining a full canopy of leaves.
Water is naturally drains or is wicked away by the constantly changing moisture levels in the surrounding soil but the root zone will still need moisture until the roots have extended beyond the original root space. As a tree’s roots develop they become an extensive moisture collecting network. A thriving mature tree can and will compete for available moisture but it takes time to become established!
FALL PLANTING TIME IS September – December! Depends on the amount of rainfall we receive and how long the plants have been in the ground your watering will need to be customized to your site. Generally speaking the time between watering does become more spaced out as we reach the coldest part of winter time.
TIP FOR EVERYBODY: A deep watering in late in fall helps all plants go through winter by protecting them from freezing dry.
WINTER :( December - February) Watering is necessary in this time frame because we have had a dry fall. Also if we have a dry winter (sometimes we are very cold but with little snow!). If that is the case a slow watering on mild days (45 to 50 degrees) will be required!
It is not uncommon for trees planted in heavy clay to occasionally go 2 to 3 weeks between watering, especially in a “wet” fall and winter when rain and snow are plentiful and there are no leaves to be maintained.
(PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT WATERING PROTOCAL WILL CHANGE IN THE SPRING ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR NEW TREE IS PUSHING OUT ITS NEW LEAVES AND AGAIN WHEN THE SEASON PROGRESSES. NEVER ASSUME A TREE NEEDS OR DOESN’T NEED WATER ALWAYS CHECK. MANY TREES WILL LOOK WILTED WHEN THEY ARE TOO DRY, TOO WET, OR TOO HOT. DO NOT ASSUME THAT IT NEEDS WATER; YOU WILL HAVE TO DIG DOWN AND CHECK THE SOIL!
PLEASE NOTE: EACH TREE IS DIFFERENT AND EACH INDIVIDUAL TREE MAY USE WATER DIFFERENTLY THEN SURRONDING PLANTS, SPOT WATERING MAY BE NEEDED DURING THE GROWING SEASON FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS!
It is not uncommon for trees planted in heavy clay to occasionally go 2 to 3 weeks between watering, especially in a “wet” fall and winter when rain and snow are plentiful and there are no leaves to be maintained.
(PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT WATERING PROTOCAL WILL CHANGE IN THE SPRING ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR NEW TREE IS PUSHING OUT ITS NEW LEAVES AND AGAIN WHEN THE SEASON PROGRESSES. NEVER ASSUME A TREE NEEDS OR DOESN’T NEED WATER ALWAYS CHECK. MANY TREES WILL LOOK WILTED WHEN THEY ARE TOO DRY, TOO WET, OR TOO HOT. DO NOT ASSUME THAT IT NEEDS WATER; YOU WILL HAVE TO DIG DOWN AND CHECK THE SOIL!
PLEASE NOTE: EACH TREE IS DIFFERENT AND EACH INDIVIDUAL TREE MAY USE WATER DIFFERENTLY THEN SURRONDING PLANTS, SPOT WATERING MAY BE NEEDED DURING THE GROWING SEASON FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS!
Thank you Frisella Nursery's Adan Briagas and Morgan's newly planted Magnolia 'Shiraz' for posing for this snapshot!
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