Water and Nutrients
Fire and Ice: Water and Nutrients. Some of Mother Natures’ most important forces. I am still struck by how many trees are struggling hard for the survival as a result of the historic Deep Freeze we saw in Texas in February 2021. I am also struck by how many trees are struggling with dehydration years after it was advised that the tree(s) needed more water. Let me delve into that a bit:
Water. Right now, as we head into our annual hot and dry portion of our growing season, the single most important thing Home-Owners can do is to properly water their trees. I emphasize properly. Be careful not to put too much water at the base of the tree such that the root-ball would remain consistently damp and moist. This has resulted in fungal root-rot time and time again. Fungus thrives in the abundance of moisture and in the lack (or relative lack) of sunlight. Fungal root-rot often results from sprinkler heads positioned too close to the base of trees and throwing water onto the base of trees. Sprinkler heads positioned proximate to the base of trees should be configured to direct water away from the base of trees. Where the trees prefer to be watered is in the area of the dripline i.e. below the outer edge of the canopy.
How much water? “By the book” you’ll want 10-15 gallons of water, for each diameter inch of the trunk (3’-4’ up from the ground), once or twice a week. Once a week 52 weeks a year and twice a week during summer/hot/dry portions of the season. If you have a 20” diameter tree for instance, you would want to water the tree with 200-300 gallons of water. Your garden hose on full blast, or your sprinkler system will put out approximately 5 gallons per minute; so in our 20” diameter tree example, this would amount to 40 to 60 minutes of watering. As simple formula of 2-3 minutes per diameter inch could be applied.
How to determine diameter inches? Your Tree Wizards assessment of each tree will indicate the diameter inches of each tree assessed. Else, you can stretch a measuring tape around the circumference of the tree at 3’-4’ above ground, and divide the circumference measurement by 3.14 (Pi) You never thought you’d need that math; right? Dividing by 3 will get you close enough. So, if your tree measures 30” all the way around; it’s a 10” diameter tree.
How often to water? You will want to deep water your trees once or twice a week. The water needs to thoroughly saturate the soil at least 4” deep if not 6” deep. For instance; if your sprinkler system is set on 15 minutes per station 3 days a week; and you surmise you are getting 40 minutes+ of water down for the trees and are therefore amply watering a tree needing 40 to 60 minutes of watering per week; think again. Will 15 minutes of watering penetrate to the depth of 4” to 6”? No. The 40 to 60 minutes in our example of a 20” diameter tree will need that 40+ minutes all at once. Trees generally like to get a good drink, and then, prefer their root-systems to dry out. And remember, summer/hot/dry conditions call for deep watering twice a week.
If you can’t, or won’t water to this extent; do your best.
Nutrients. Lets understand the importance of nutrients and feeding your trees:
Previously I touched on significant numbers of trees are still struggling from the trauma of “Snow-meggedon” nearly a year and a half later. On the other hand, other trees of the same species sailed through the event with little or no lasting effects. The difference? Nutrients!
Many of our Clients offered their observation that their trees which had been under our Deep Root Feeding care fared quite well after “Snow-Meggedon” while their neighbors’ trees did not survive or suffered greatly. To peel the onion back and understand these alternate outcomes better, it is helpful to understand that normally, trees try to store up three (3) years worth of reserves, or “savings”, with which to survive such traumatic events. Reserves in this case refers to water, nutrients and food. I emphasize normally, because, when you think about it, where can you find “normal”? In Texas, we have heat, we have drought, we have strong winds and storms; hurricanes, tornadoes, and yes; occasionally, historic and exceptionally cold winter weather. The soils, due to extensive farming dating back 200+ years ago, as well as more recent land development; our soil only has about 10% of the nutrients it had as little as 100 years ago. So, after surviving many of these hardships, many trees do not enjoy “normal” and are not able to store up the reserves they “normally” would have. Lets assume many trees out there only have 10 or 20% of the reserves they should have. After “Snow-Meggedon” many trees died. Many others survived; but barely. These trees are substantially weakened, could not produce a full complement of foliage with which to abundantly manufacture food. In their weakened condition, they are now much more susceptible to the attack of insects and pathogens; pathogens such as Oak Wilt. Eight (8) years ago, our research indicated Oak Wilt was afflicting one (1) in 10,000 Oaks in N. Texas. Today Oak Wilt is afflicting one (1) in ten (10) Oaks. Why is this?
Generally, it is a lack of water and poor nutrient availability. If you value your trees and have reasonable means; you as a home-owner and tree-owner can fix this. Water your trees 2-3 minutes per diameter inch at chest height; 1-2 times per week; 52 weeks a year (unless we are seeing Noahs’ flood-levels of rain of course). If you live in Texas, odds are, your trees need the water. And; feed your trees (or have them professionally fed). They need the nutrients. Feed them 2-4 times a year i.e. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. You may be able to save some money feeding them yourself but not necessarily. Fertilizers have gone up in price 10 to 20 fold in some parts of the country. We buy ahead and purchase in bulk. It may well be that we can Deep Root Feed your trees professionally for the same expense, or even less, than you would spend doing it yourself. Worse, you could kill your trees by feeding them too much, and watering them too little.
For a FREE Professional Assessment of your trees’ health-care concerns, and recommendations about what can be done to maximize their health, vigor, defense, beauty, and value to the property, call now. Call White Rock Tree Wizards and schedule your FREE Assessment today. Tree Wizards is your local tree health-care experts and has been serving Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas for over fourteen (14) years. Our Arborist and Tree Doctor, Jim Chase; has forty-five (45) years of experience caring for trees. Call White Rock Tree Wizards today at (972) 803-6313. You will be glad you did! Thank you!
