Are your trees getting the water they need?
You may have a beautiful and green lawn but did you know lawns and trees typically need two different types of watering techniques?
During the warmer months lawns like to get watered everyday, sometimes twice a day and usually their roots are very close to the surface and dry out more quickly. Trees, on the other hand, have roots a that tend to grow more deeply. Roots on trees are very active about 12- 18 inches deep, with some species and many younger trees having deeper tap roots.
Stimulating Roots to Grow
When a tree doesn’t find water it’s roots will begin grow in search of new water sources. This is good and will benefit the tree, up to a point. If the tree does not find the water it is looking for, after extending the energy, the roots may begin to recede in order to compartmentalize and prepare for more dryness. If these conditions continue the tree may enter into survival mode in further preparation for severe drought. Understanding this process is helpful for creating a strong root system that will support a healthy tree.
When trees are watered too closely to the trunk, as many automatic watering systems do, a tree’s root system is less likely to spread and may altogether stop growing new roots. It is possible for a tree to become dependent on the constant supply of nearby water. Essentially these conditions create a watering environment that is similar to hydroponic plant growing systems.
We often see this as a result of automatic watering systems installed when a tree is first planted and never being moved the further away from the base of the tree as it grows. Common watering issues are results of incorrect use and location of:
- Lawn Sprinklers
- Soaker Hoses
- Drip Systems
- Surface Irrigation
Deep Root Watering Trees and Water Conservation
A deep root watering tool is a handy for getting water to trees where they need it. Deep root watering also helps with water conservation because:
A) Less water is loss from evaporation than with surface watering.
C) It helps to eliminate the need to use more water to saturate the topsoil before the water steeps in to the deeper layers of the earth.
B) Trees that have had a good deep watering – need to be watered less often.
How to Deep Root Water Trees?
Watering trees with a deep root watering tool is simple. 1.) Attach a garden hose from a water source to the tool. 2.) Locate the outer diameter of a tree’s crown (canopy) and push the long metal end of the tool 8″-16″ into ground. note: if it is a rocky terrain you may need to trying from several different angles and while gently spining the top handles to the left and right. 3.) Turn the water on at the source. 4.) Open the valve on the tool. 5.) Move the tool around the diameter of the tree’s crown several times (the number of times you need to move the tool depends on the size of the tree and the type of soil where the tree’s roots grow) until you have gone completely around the tree.
For better control of water usage you can also attach a garden hose timer that will automatically shut off when the set amount of time is up.