Watering Fruit Trees During Drought

Generally in drought mature trees can survive with a monthly watering from april through october.

Watering fruit trees during drought.

From november to march reduce watering to every other week. When water demand of a fruit tree is higher than supply drought stress occurs. But their growth may be improved by watering when they are under drought stress trees and shrubs planted less than five years ago have increased water requirements and may suffer drought stress without watering. But during extended periods of drought all trees benefit from supplemental watering.

Keep the mulch at least 6 inches from the trunk. The trees in your yard need you. The less you water your fruit tree the deeper and wider the roots will grow in search of moisture. Spread the mulch all around the tree.

A 2 inch diameter tree measured at 6 inches above the ground should receive about 20 gallons of water a week during drought periods. In drought deeply water young trees with 5 15 gallons of water weekly from april through october. If mulch is next to the tree the bark could rot. Be sure to water the entire root zone beneath the tree canopy.

This will increase the strength and vigor of the tree. A small windbreak tree one planted a year or two ago still needs about 2 or 3 gallons of water a week. During times of drought the tables are turned. All trees should also receive adequate water during the winter months too but water can be less frequent.

Add 3 4 inches of mulch. Slow deep watering every five to seven days during drought is ideal for mature trees in the midwest or northeast and four to six days during drought for mature trees in areas with 95 to 105 degree temperatures fahrenheit. Mulching helps the tree retain moisture. The best time to water is typically in the morning.

Water trees during a drought. Often drought stress is associated with heat stress during the hot summer months. Established trees and shrubs do not generally need watering as they have such wide ranging roots that they are drought proof. The best means of applying this water for landscape trees is slowly with a soaker hose placed near the tree.

According to skip richter county agent with the texas agrilife extension service in houston during periods of drought the goal is to provide just enough supplemental irrigation to maximize growth on young trees and to keep older established trees healthy. At least once a week watering but preferably 2 3 times a week if you get no rainfall. All size trees should be watered especially during drought conditions because normal rainfall is non existent. The trick is to water deeply ideally using a soaker hose to help the water reach a depth of 8 12 inches.

It is far more efficient than applying a lot of water at once which ends up as run off.