The Three Best Ways to Water Your Trees
Trees cleanse the air and give your home a break from the sun. They add charm, natural beauty, and dappled shade that’s ideal for turf grass and landscaping plants.
What does it take to water the trees in your yard? Here are our top tips for keeping your trees hydrated and thriving for a lifetime.
Plant With a Watering Plan
A proactive watering plan ensures each tree receives just the right amount of water from seedling to maturity. Before you plant new trees or add new irrigation features, map out a basic tree plan.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply draw outlines of your house and yard, then note each tree’s location. Ensure each tree will have plenty of growth space based on its full, mature size. If you need extra help, consider working with an experienced arborist, tree nursery or irrigation contractor to develop a custom plan for your property.
Consider your trees’ needs. Saplings and young trees generally require more frequent watering than mature trees because their roots are not yet deeply established. Beware of overwatering, which can drown the young roots with too much fluid.
Mature trees need less frequent but deeper watering at regular intervals. Deep watering is particularly important during drought, which places more stress than usual on your trees.
As time goes by, use your tree map to decide on new tree locations and the right watering features, like sprinklers and drip lines. Below, we’ll explain more about the watering features you can use to provide ideal hydration.
Nourish From the Roots
Although you might envision watering your trees from the ground level, root watering is the secret to decades of healthy trees. Also known as subsurface root irrigation, a root watering system directs the flow of water directly at the tree roots rather than applying it from above the land's surface.
This encourages roots to grow steadily away from the root ball, rather than remaining stunted or reaching toward the ground’s surface. As a result of root watering, the tree becomes more deeply nestled in the ground. It will not only drink water more efficiently throughout its life but also root firmly enough to resist windstorms and other damage.
Benefits of Root Watering
- Consistency. Root watering provides up to 95% uniformity in water application.
- Aesthetics. Below-surface watering and bubbler systems are almost invisible to the eye.
- Health. A University of Arizona study found trees grew stronger and roots grew thicker with the increased oxygen and nutrients from root watering.
Water Your Trees Multiple Ways
One of the best ways to enhance watering efficiency is to add multiple watering options for your trees and plants. In some areas, drip irrigation might be the best solution. Other areas may call for sprinklers or subsurface irrigation.
1. Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigators apply water in the root zone. This spot watering method is perfect for areas like decorative beds with a mix of flowers, bushes, and trees. Water slowly drips its nutrients into your tree root areas on a schedule you can program for maximum effectiveness.
Bubblers and micro sprayers are also types of drip irrigation you can use to direct water flow to specific areas. These localized, low-spray options allow precise targeting of water to prevent overspray and ensure each plant or tree receives optimal water.
2. Sprinklers
Did you know sprinklers are math marvels for tree-filled lawns? They use built-in technology with adjustable calculations to deliver just the right amount of water to each tree.
A low-volume square nozzle sprinkler has many potential configurations and fits many types of spray heads and watering features. Use these sprinklers to create a grid and ensure you’re watering the entire root base around every tree, preventing uneven growth.
An automated sprinkler system prevents water waste, overwatering, and underwatering. Timed water application also works conveniently with your schedule, allowing you to water only when you’re not out using your yard.
3. Subsurface Drip Lines
A subsurface drip line is perhaps the most efficient and tree-friendly watering system you can add to your yard. After its installation, it’s an almost maintenance-free irrigation solution. Your trees stay free of puddling and oversaturation, enjoying a stable and consistent flow of nourishing water.
Some homeowners prefer subsurface irrigation for design and aesthetic reasons. You can create a buried watering system that won’t interfere with the beautiful, landscaped look of your yard. Subsurface systems come in a nearly endless variety of layouts and configurations to suit your trees perfectly.
The Root Booster series of products from Rain Bird offer a root watering solution that's easy to install for a variety of solutions. These innovative products eliminate the need to rely solely on rain or automatic irrigation systems. Root Booster's non-woven material actively captures water that might otherwise dissipate through evaporation or drainage, making it accessible to the plant's roots whenever needed, effectively extending the intervals between watering sessions, saving you time, water, and money.
Bonus Tip: Tree Stories
As you can see, watering your trees is much easier when you have the right irrigation features. A thoughtful watering plan is the secret to decades of healthy growth.
If you’d like to learn more about tree care, listen to the Tree Stories docuseries with tree expert Elliott Bambrough. It’s a fascinating peek inside life as a tree in your yard, with plenty of tips for watering your trees for the best possible results.
