Posted on June 28, 2024 at 1:49 PM by Nicole Newsom
During hot summers, trees lose water to the atmosphere quickly. A tree could actually “bake” during the day. Trees in summer generally look better in the early morning than in the late evening because trees take up most water after the sun goes down.
The best time to water trees is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and the most efficient way to water is with a soaker hose. The key is to water the area from the drip line to one-third of the way towards the trunk. This is where most of the water-absorbing roots are located. Mulch the area to help maintain soil moisture and periodically move the hose around to cover as much area as possible.
Water if there has been no rainfall for more than 2 weeks. Between one and two inches of water should be enough. That’s at least five gallons of water for every square yard of surface area, which should be sufficient to provide water equal to a one-inch rainfall. Try to water one to two times a week, moving the location of the hose each time so more of the soil gets covered.
New, recently planted trees have somewhat different requirements. Nursery stock is often watered three or four times a week. Your planted tree will need between five and seven-and-a-half gallons of water a week for every inch of trunk caliper. Make sure to mulch around the tree with a light organic mulch material.