WATERING 101 | How to Properly Water Trees in Omaha

WATERING 101

Humans and trees alike understand one universal rule. Water is life! If you do one thing to ensure the health and longevity of your trees, it should be the root system-boosting, live-giving act of weekly watering!

It seems straightforward, but homeowners have many questions about watering their trees.

  • When should I water my trees?

  • How often should I water my trees?

  • What is the best method to water trees?

  • How much water do my trees need?

This subject is complicated further by changing seasons and erratic weather patterns of the Midwest. Omahans ask about the following:

  • Should I water my trees in winter?

  • Should I still water if it has recently rained?

The short answer is that all trees benefit from water year-round, whenever temperatures are above 40 degrees and natural rainfall is below 1" for the week. Here are tips & best practices for watering trees in Nebraska during any season!

FALL & WINTER WATERING

In winter, when deciduous trees have lost their leaves, demand decreases. However, water is still necessary to maintain a healthy root system. Aim to water deciduous trees at least once a month unless drought-like conditions are present. During a winter drought, aim for every other week.

On the other hand, Evergreens keep their needles, so they continue to photosynthesize and maintain high water demands throughout the cold season. If snow cover is not present and temperatures reach 40 degrees, you should be thinking about augmenting to reach the standard 1" of cumulative water per week.

In winter, Try to provide moisture mid-day, when temperatures peak, and trees' transport systems are most active. You can use the garden hose if circumstances allow, but remember to disconnect when you have finished your watering session! If the hose is not an option, use buckets, commercially sold watering bags and/or pile salt-free snow at the base of the tree to provide a gradual trickle watering throughout the week. If winter watering is not an option, be diligent about your fall watering schedule!

SPRING & SUMMER WATERING

During summer, when trees are actively growing, and the weather is hot, moisture demand is high for deciduous trees and evergreens alike.

You can use a sprinkler system to water trees, but homeowners should know that underground sprinklers are designed for lawns and typically lack the aim and cadence for optimized tree health. If using a sprinkler, the areas to target are within the drip line (aka, if branches are above, this is an excellent place to water).

Soak trees once a week. They need 1" of moisture from the hose, watering bags, sprinkler systems, or rain. A slow drip, or low volume, is preferred to prevent runoff/waste and ensure that the water has time to trickle down and provide a DEEP root watering. This technique is critical when watering on a hill.

Deep watering encourages your tree to grow a robust and entrenched root structure and makes shallow or intrusive surface roots less prominent. Pay attention to the weather. If Mother Nature has provided 1" of moisture, there is no need to let money and resources drain away.

If soil is drying out between watering, consider installing mulch. In fact, even if you don't see this effect, consider installing mulch! Mulch mimics the leaf litter layer of a forest, maintaining moisture, providing a slow infusion of nutrients, and insulating the root system from wind, sun & temperature extremes. Learn how to properly install mulch to promote root system health.

WATERING NEW TREES

Water is crucial to the success of a newly planted or transplanted tree. While other factors may lead to shock and rejection of your new addition, watering provides your tree with at least the basic building block for success, which makes for a more smooth transition. As a rule of thumb, your new tree takes approximately one year per inch of trunk diameter to establish its root system. Ex. It takes two years for a tree with a 2" diameter trunk to become established. You should pay special attention to watering this transition.

You can help your new tree root more deeply by providing a slow trickle. Roots will dive and establish themselves deeply within the soil instead of going to the surface to search for water. Thorough watering after a transplant decreases the short-term chances of organism rejection and the long-term chances of toppling over.

With the current cost of saplings (don't even get us started on the cost of spading!), watering is an easy way to ensure your dollar is well spent!

Trish Glass