Katie
A good watering regime is essential for young trees and shrubs to establish properly. This guide will walk you through how long to water a new tree or shrub for, when is best to water, how often to water, how to know if your tree needs water, and how much water to use, as well as how to look out for signs of over or underwatering.
You can watch the video version of this guide below.
What's in this guide
Water for the first 2-3 years after planting, in spring and summer
An establishing tree needs watering in the first 2-3 years after planting throughout spring and summer. After 2-3 years in the ground, the tree will have a developed a larger root structure, so you won’t need to water as frequently, apart from in periods of drought.
In autumn, young trees may need a little water during dry spells. Trees don't need watering in winter during dormancy, apart from evergreen trees which may need some occasional winter watering.
Water early in the morning or in the evening
Water early in the morning or in the evening when the temperature is cooler, to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation.
Aim for infrequent, deep watering sessions
Avoid frequent, shallow watering sessions. Instead, aim for infrequent, deep watering sessions. This allows water to reach further into the soil, helping the tree to develop a deeper, stronger root system, in turn helping the tree to become more tolerant of drought in future.
To water your tree, apply a generous amount of water to the soil at the base of the tree, distributing it evenly over the entire rootmass. Slowly apply a full watering can’s worth and if it drains away, give it some more after a few minutes. We recommend using a rose head watering can attachment to mimic the effect of rainfall. If you have poorly draining soil, such as clay, less water may be required in normal weather. Don’t allow water to pool in the soil and avoid watering the foliage – water can act like a magnifying glass in the sun and cause the leaves to burn.
As a rule of thumb, water approx. once a week, but increase watering in dry weather
How often you should water depends on various factors including the species, weather, soil type and planting location.
As a rule of thumb, water approx. once a week, and during a hot or dry spring and summer, when there is no heavy rain, water approx. every 2-3 days. During extended periods of dry weather with extreme heat, newly establishing trees may need to be watered every day. Bear in mind that a little rainfall is not enough to counteract a spell of hot, dry weather.
Check if your species of tree has any specific watering requirements. Willow trees, for instance, thrive when given plenty of water. Young fruit trees also need plenty of water in order to produce their crop.
Avoid overwatering by checking the soil
Before watering again, you should aim to let the soil dry a little, without letting it dry out entirely. It is possible to over-water your tree, so before watering again, check if your tree needs water by digging a finger down around 5cm into the soil.
If the soil feels even slightly moist, it does not need further watering. If it feels dry, water and repeat this test again.
Look out for the signs of underwatering and overwatering
Signs of underwatering
- Leaves may be wilted but dry and crispy or turning brown at the edges
- The canopy may be sparse and off-colour with undersized leaves
- Leaves may drop prematurely
- The soil around the base of the tree may be dry and cracked
Signs of overwatering
- Leaves may be yellow and wilted or drooping, not crispy
- The soil around the base of the tree may be constantly wet
- New leaves may be fragile or break easily
- Fungus or mould may grow in the soil
