Both watering too much or too little could be harmful for your trees.
Balance is crucial in every aspect of your life, and this includes tree care. Watering the perfect amount is crucial for keeping your trees healthy and strong. Both watering too much or too little could be harmful. If the leaves are brown on the edges, wilted, or dropping, your tree might not be getting enough water. On the other hand, green leaves that break easily can mean you are overwatering. Just like roots, leaves need oxygen for respiration, which turns sugars into energy. Overly wet soil conditions can suffocate roots, which prevents them from obtaining oxygen. As a general rule of thumb, deep and infrequent watering is optimal for a lot of trees in most situations. The precise amount of water your tree needs, however, really depends on the time of year and the tree’s current age in the landscape. Read on to learn how to properly maintain the balance of your trees!
How Much Should You Water Younger Trees?
Younger trees need much more care and attention for their first one to two years. During their initial establishment period, trees focus their energy and resources on growing the roots, which is why you will see little above-ground growth. The real magic is happening underground! By providing a tree with enough water, you are helping grow strong and substantial roots while also promoting leaf and stem growth. Adequate irrigation does encourages a desirable dominant leader in a tree’s canopy. If you don’t water a newly planted tree enough, a tree might develop minimal roots, suffer from canopy dieback, or develop double leaders that could split from the tree later, or take a lot longer to establish.
How Much Should You Water Your Mature Trees?
The roots of a grown tree have already been spread out, so they do not need as much attention. You could even plan to water mature trees as little as one to two times a month if they’re well established. Based on the amount of rain and heat levels in your region, this could vary. Watering more often when there’s a drought is typically smart, but resist the urge to overcompensate. To see if there’s a need for water, poke a long screwdriver into your soil. If it is hard to push in and there isn’t any soil sticking to the shaft, there’s water. If the screwdriver penetrates easily and has particles stuck to it when pulled out of the ground, the soil is still very saturated.
Tree Care and Maintenance from Harford Tree
Ready to have the beautiful yard you have always dreamed of? Harford Tree Experts & Landscaping, Inc has been in the business for decades, providing customers with quality work and quick responses all at the right price. We service the areas of Harford County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City areas including Bel Air, Fallston, Perry Hall, Towson, Essex, Parkville, White Marsh and Middle River.
For service during business hours, reach out to us or give us a call at 410-592-7321. We offer 24/7 emergency service as well, just give us a call at 443-250-6649. For updates about our business and more informative tips, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.