Newly planted saplings have different watering needs than mature, established trees. Knowing how often to water newly planted trees can give your saplings and juveniles a great start! Discover expert insights below from Oregon Arborist’s certified arborist in Lafayette, OR.
When to Plant Your Trees
Plant your new trees during the right season. Many people make the mistake of planting their trees in spring. Although trees can handle transfers from pot to soil in the spring, late summer to early autumn is optimal.
Why? Trees focus their energy on root growth during cooler months. Thus, waiting for weather conditions that precede tree dormancy offer a stronger foundation for healthy trees.
However, a few tree species do best when transplanted in the spring. If you are unsure of the best time to plant your tree, err on the side of caution and wait till late summer.
How Often to Water Newly Planted Trees
As soon as you transplant your sapling or juvenile tree, water it deeply enough to soak the surrounding soil through. For two weeks following the transplant, water the sapling thoroughly each day. Don’t worry about overwatering, as new trees need the excess water to develop and strengthen their fragile, underdeveloped root systems.
From weeks 3 through 12, you can decrease your regular watering schedule. A good rule of thumb is to water every two to three days. In hot, dry weather conditions, your tree may benefit from deep watering every other day.
How Much Water Do Newly Planted Trees Need?
Calculating how much water to provide is just as important as knowing how often to water newly planted trees. The gallons of water a new tree needs to thrive directly correlates to the size of its trunk. You’ll find some easy conversions below.
- A trunk with a one-inch diameter needs up to a gallon and a half per watering session.
- Trunks with two-inch diameters require up to three gallons of water.
- Trunks that measure three inches in diameter need four and half gallons of water.
These increments continue with each inch gained.
When to Stop Watering New Trees
From week 12 onward, you need only water once per week until the root system fully develops and adjusts to its location. The adjustment period often lasts a couple of years and depends on the tree’s age when you purchased and planted it. Once your tree has survived and flourished for up to three years, you can let nature take the wheel.
Larger, more mature transplants are the exception. Not only will they need more water, but they also take longer to comfortably establish a root system. Trees with four or more inches in diameter need five to ten years to fully adapt and develop a root system.
Explore More Expert Care Tips and Services from Oregon Arborist
At Oregon’s Arborist, we adore trees and want to help other tree lovers better fulfill their arboreal friends’ needs. So we offer advice about how often to water newly planted trees and answer questions like “What is an arborist?”
We also offer a plethora of tree services. Call (503) 899 4166 to learn more!