Proper Watering

Essential for Life

Water is essential for life until we find a planet that proves otherwise!

Trees thrive with proper watering. They grow their canopies to provide shade, capture carbon dioxide to regurgitate oxygen and continue life on Earth.

If Water is Good, how can Watering be Bad?

Take a lesson from the Stoics: the extreme of a good thing is a bad thing.

Like humans, if a tree is not watered properly, it will undergo stress and become prone to catching diseases. If water is essential to life as we know it, then proper watering is essential to the good life of a tree.

Water They Sayin’?

A common watering mistake, though innocently made, is excessive, frequent top watering. Leaving the sprinklers on for three minutes a day, or twenty minutes every other day, is not good enough!

It is easy to overwater a tree when top watering. The soil never has a chance to dry, leaving the top roots drenched and the lower roots thirsty.

Excessive top watering leads to (harmful) fungal growth. Proper watering helps prevent fungal diseases from spreading.

Proper Watering Techniques

Proper watering means watering less frequently for longer durations.

Our ISA Certified Arborists recommend watering between 4-6 hours on a slow trickle every 1-3 weeks. If it’s a drought tolerant tree (lookin’ at you, Oaks!), then a deep soak every other week is best.

Mature trees (3 years old and better) have roots that extend towards the drip line, which is the ground area under the furthest branches. Water the area near the base of the tree, directing the flow outward toward the dripline. Be careful not to hit the trunk!

It’s important to note that these are broad watering recommendations, not necessarily prescriptions.

Proper watering will vary according to the species of tree, soil type, area temperature, and shade provided.

Speak with an ISA Certified Arborist for the most accurate watering recommendation for your tree.

Mulch on It

Without proper sun protection, you wouldn’t step out in the blazing sun all day!

Likewise, trees need some protection from the sun’s rays, and a way to retain their moisture after proper watering.

Our ISA Certified Arborists at Sims Tree Health Specialists recommend mulching, as it retains moisture in the soil and keeps the roots cool.

Mulch in a 4-inch layer around the tree, being careful not to lay it down close to the trunk. As mulch breaks down, it introduces organic material into the soil, helping with soil compaction and nutrient uptake.

Water You Thinking?

Still unsure if you’re properly watering?

Call the Sims Tree Health Specialists team to schedule an ISA Certified Arborist to assess your tree’s watering needs.

About Sims Tree Health Specialists, Inc. 

Sims Tree Health Specialists, Inc. is dedicated to the preservation, education, improved health, and safety of trees. Sims THS has provided California’s Urban Forests with premium healthcare since 1972. To learn more, visit our website: https://www.simsths.com/

Sims THS offers services with our ISA Certified Arborists in the following:

Diagnosis and Disease Management, Pest Suppression, Organic Solutions, Fruit Suppression, Drought Protection, and Arborist Assessment Reports and Preservation Plans.

In addition to providing quality tree health services, the Sims family is known for their educational pursuits. In 1996, they started the Sims Tree Learning Center (TLC), a 6-acre botanical garden and research facility sponsored by Sims Tree Health Specialists, Inc. The facility houses multiple types of gardens, including a cactus and succulent garden and one of the largest collections of Palms in the Inland Empire. Learn with us!