In the first two years aim to soak your whole mulch area to ensure the whole root system, reduced in size by the nursery, has access to the water as well as encouraging the outward growth of new absorbing roots towards the edge of the mulch ring (roots can only grow where there is sufficient moisture – they can’t grow through dry soil towards a water source). In subsequent years, focus any watering and feeding around the drip line as this is where the absorbing roots will lie; there’s little point in watering and feeding the woody ‘secondary’ growth around the base of the trunk.
All too often watering gets neglected as moving around large volumes can be hard, sweaty work in the sun and people don’t fully appreciate the needs of young trees. Finding ways to make this less of a slog can make all the difference.
One great little invention is the H2go; an 80l water bag designed to sit in a wheel barrow where it can be filled up and emptied through a spout by simply tilting the barrow forward. That’s up to four trees in one journey. Using a couple these, two people could water a whole orchard sufficiently in little time.
So, we’d love to hear how groups are tackling their watering. In particular, we’re keen to see successful rain water collection set ups in public spaces, and how park groups get water to their trees when they’re planted far from a tap. Please share your ideas on our Twitter and/or Facebook, or email firstname.lastname@example.org.