{"id":756,"date":"2021-11-02T13:40:50","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T13:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/treeserviceharrisburg.com\/?p=756"},"modified":"2021-11-11T07:31:49","modified_gmt":"2021-11-11T07:31:49","slug":"tree-water-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/treeserviceharrisburg.com\/tree-water-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Water Needs of Trees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Now that summer is in full swing, your trees are becoming more prone to heat stress. Trees and plants need water just like humans. Many homeowners assume that rain provides enough soil moisture and hydration. However, this is not always true during the dry season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watering properly is an essential tree care tip<\/a> that will help them keep healthy and stress-free. But watering can be tricky for some people. Follow this simple guide to ensure your trees are watered regularly and consistently:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watering Guidelines<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n


As a rule of thumb, trees need at least about one inch of water per week. The water should be applied slowly so that it soaks down. Most tree roots are closer to the trunk and not too deep. The best way to water trees is to concentrate on watering the area beneath the branches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might be wondering just how much water your tree needs. Several factors affect watering, such as the size and species of tree. The larger the tree, the more water it requires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For young trees, water the roots around the trunk and not the trunk itself. Newly planted trees can\u2019t store much water because they haven\u2019t grown a large network of roots. To ensure growth, water the area where the root ball is. Adding a 3-ft wide mulch ring around the trunk will also help maintain soil moisture. Water them every couple of weeks and more often during dry weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For mature trees that are more than 25 years old, water them weekly about 10 gallons per 1 inch of trunk diameter. The key is watering deeply and consistently. The deep watering method<\/a> helps speed the root establishment and prevent over\/underwatering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transpiration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n


No matter the size of your tree, the water it will absorb may be lost through transpiration<\/a>. During this process, the water is spread throughout the tree before it evaporates as water vapor from the small holes in the foliage. As a result, transpiration causes a huge loss of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To know whether your trees need water, you can check the soil. When you touch the soil with your finger, it should be moist and not soggy. You may also use a garden trowel and a wooden dowel inserted into the ground. If the soil is dry to the touch, your tree needs water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Time To Water Plants <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n


There is no ideal time for watering trees. It all depends on the size of your tree, soil conditions, and weather conditions. However, most tree experts recommend watering plants during the early morning. Since the weather is still cool, the water won\u2019t evaporate quickly. This way, the roots have a chance to absorb most of the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watering during the summer afternoon is not advisable because up to half of the water can be lost to evaporation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watering Tools<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n


If you have a dry landscape, don\u2019t fret! Here are some of the available tools for watering trees and keeping your lawn healthy and hydrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n