Essential Watering Guidelines for Newly Planted Trees

Newly planted trees need more water than your lawn sprinkler system provides for the first 18 months after planting. There are several options for watering your trees, including using bubblers, drip irrigation, a garden hose, Tree Gators, or ArborRain bags. Treeland includes a 4-inch perforated drainage pipe with every tree, extending to the base of the rootball. This pipe is solely for monitoring soil moisture, so please avoid watering directly into it. Instead, direct water into the surrounding tree well.

Our delivery crew will water your trees on planting day. How much and when you water next depends on the temperature. Our guidelines below work for most trees 10 gallons and larger, but performing soil moisture tests offers a tailored approach to prevent over or underwatering.

Understanding Soil Moisture Tests

The goal of a soil moisture test is to ensure the soil at the base of the drainage pipe has an ideal texture—soft, moist, pliable, and cool to the touch, similar to Play-Doh. This ideal consistency should be achieved 24 hours after watering when temperatures exceed 95°F, and 48 hours after watering when temperatures are below 95°F.

You can collect a soil sample from the bottom of the drainage pipe using a stick, dowel, paint stir stick, broom handle, PVC pipe, or rebar; we've found that dirt adheres best to wooden surfaces.

• If the soil sample is drier than Play-Doh, you're not watering enough.
• If the soil sample is wetter than Play-Doh, you're overwatering.
• If water accumulates at the bottom of the pipe, it needs to be drained. You can use a shop vac, hand pump, or an M12 Stick Transfer Pump from Milwaukee.

Consistent watering is crucial for accurate soil moisture testing. Water each tree with the same amount consistently, as inconsistent watering makes it harder to determine necessary adjustments. After collecting multiple soil samples, we can typically customize your watering schedule within 2-3 weeks.

For multiple trees, it's best to test the soil moisture around each one individually. Moisture levels can vary significantly even among trees planted close together.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tree Watering