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How much water does a new tree need?
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There are a lot of right answers
because "how much" can depend on "how
often" and "how big" the tree is. Most experts agree that new tree
watering should occur 4 to 5 times per
month, simulating frequent, natural
rainfall. Five gallons of water will
saturate about five cubic foot of the
average soil type, which is about the
size of the tree well of most small trees. Five gallons once per
week is usually adequate.
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How often should I water a new tree?
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Unless adequate
rainfall occurs, new trees should be
watered from early Spring until the
leaves drop off in the Fall. During
normal dry times, once a week is
adequate. If the afternoon temperatures
are extreme, try twice a week. Be
careful not to
over-water, tree roots
need some breathing time. Using the
right tools, tree watering can be an
easy, enjoyable chore.
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What is the benefit of deep-root
watering? |
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Deep root
watering stops wasteful run-off and
concentrates on the area that matters
most. Surface watering often leaves you
wondering when you should stop, usually
resulting in more time and water than is
actually necessary. Soaker hose and slow
drip watering methods may soak the
surface only, promoting root growth near
the surface. Deep root development is
essential for strength and drought
hardiness when the tree establishes
itself and the watering stops.
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Will my sprinkler system take care of my
trees? |
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Sprinkler systems
are for watering your grass. No deep
watering occurs. In most cases, relying
on your sprinkler system will result in
inadequate surface watering as only the
top few inches will be soaked.
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When is a tree considered established?
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Generally
speaking, a tree should be
well-established in 3 - 5 years,
depending on the deep root development.
This means that the tree can survive dry
times without help. If you want the tree
to continue growing at its maximum you
should continue to water during dry
times. As the tree grows, so does the size
of the root system. You can get a
general idea of the size of the root
system by looking at the size of the
above-ground spread. Remember that 5
gallons of water saturates about 5 cubic
feet of soil. This should give you an
idea of how much water is needed.
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How much mulch should I use on my new
tree? |
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Mulch should be 3
to 4 inches deep. This is enough to
buffer the soil from direct sunlight
while controlling the grass and allowing
the roots to breathe. Heavy mulching can
hold enough moisture that roots will
actually grow into the mulch. If this
happens, you will likely have exposed
roots when the tree matures. Also note
that the base of the tree (trunk flare)
needs to be clear. A tree trunk will rot
if it cannot dry out. Heavy mulching can
actually kill a tree.
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How long will it take for the Tree I.V.
Reservoir to empty?
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Percolation rate
is determined by soil type and
conditions. Sandy soils can be as fast
as a few minutes, normal loamy soil
about 10 minutes, and heavy clay soils
could potentially take hours. Very dry,
hard-packed soil is like a dry sponge,
resisting water initially, but once it
becomes moist it will take water nicely.
Try to avoid letting the soil dry
harden.
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Will Tree I.V. work in my heavy clay
soil? |
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Clay soil is
tricky. It absorbs water slowly, and it
also dries out slowly. Tree I.V. will
work at the absorption rate of the soil.
If it is too slow, perhaps it is not as
dry as you might think. Remember,
though, that one of the great benefits
of Tree I.V. is no run-off. It will sit
and wait as long as it takes.
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What if I have rocky soil?
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Tree I.V. was
designed for newly planted trees. The
injector is located in the area that was
dug up for planting. We can only assume
that any rocks that were removed were
not put back in the hole. The durability
of the Injector allows for hitting rocks
without breaking, but it will not
penetrate rock.
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What benefits does Tree I.V.
have over a hose-fed
root feeder? |
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Speed - You can
water all of your trees at once
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Consistency - You
know the amount of water applied to each
tree
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Self Monitoring -
No timing is required
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Natural - Gravity feed will not form air
pockets in the root well
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Portability - Reservoirs can be
filled and taken to remote trees
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Conservation -
Stops excessive use of water
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What are the advantages Tree I.V. has
over a soaker hose?
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Subsurface
watering
- Deeper
root development
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Speed - You can
water all of your trees at once
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Consistency - You
know the amount of water applied to each
tree
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Self Monitoring -
No timing is required
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Portability - Reservoirs can be
filled and taken to remote trees
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Nutrients - Adding water soluble nutrients is
easy
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What advantages does Tree I.V. have over
drip bags?
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Can I hook my garden hose directly to
the injector?
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The Tree I.V. was
designed to be self-contained and
hose-free so it is possible to water all
of your trees at once. Why wait if you
don't need to?
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Is Tree I.V. just for trees?
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Tree I.V. was
designed for newly planted trees, but it
will also work for young bushes and
shrubs and even tomato plants.
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Will Tree I.V. work for mature trees?
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Mature trees will
have a widespread root system that makes
using the Tree I.V. impractical for
watering only. However, it can be used
to inject nutrients if desired.
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Is the Reservoir just a regular bucket?
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The
Reservoir is
a 5-gallon bucket with a modified slip
joint to mate with the injector. There
is nothing more practical or cost
effective than a lightweight, stackable
5-gallon bucket.
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Can I use my own bucket?
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Yes.
We offer the rubber grommet separately which
can be used to
build your own reservoir.
Simply drill a 1.25" hole near the edge,
insert grommet, and begin watering.
We believe in re-use over refuse, so we are
happy to help you use something you already
have.
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Where is Tree I.V. made?
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All components
are manufactured in the U.S.
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Who uses Tree I.V.?
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Homeowners,
service organizations, groundskeepers,
etc. We have customers are in all 50
states, Canada, and worldwide.
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Can I get Tree I.V. locally?
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SayeGrow is the
only supplier of Tree I.V. We ship UPS,
usually within three business days.
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