For the second year in a row, our landscape trees and shrubs are facing a dry fall. We have been dry all of August and September is beginning with a dry start. Last fall’s drought and the subsequent snowless winter raised havoc with woody plants of all types and ages. This spring many leafed out late or poorly, if at all. We continued to see trees decline all summer. Because of this, extra care is needed. Drought-stressed trees and shrubs are more prone to injury caused by even normal winters because they are too stressed to go through the long, slow process of shutting down for winter dormancy. They will suffer more dieback, stem cracking, and bark splitting among other symptoms of stress. Some woody plants, particularly trees, have started to turn fall colors which means they are shutting down from stress, not winter dormancy. Most people are pretty diligent about watering newly planted woody plants because the price they paid and the work of planting is still fresh in their minds. Established plantings, however, are less likely to get watered. Woody plants in shade gardens and wooded areas are often overlooked, but we must remember that soil moisture in these areas can be in short supply due to all the plants that grow in the shade and compete for water. Gary Johnson, Extension Specialist in Urban and Community Forestry, urges homeowners to keep the upper 6-8 inches of the soil around trees and shrubs moist. If you have not been watering your woody plants and the soil is dry, it will take a good bit of water to attain that depth of soil moisture. For newly planted trees and shrubs, Johnson advises watering every two-to-three days. For every inch of stem caliper, apply 1.5 gallons of water and just pour it over the rootball area. Thus, a 2-inch tree needs 3 gallons of water every two-to-three days. If the soil is poorly drained, the plants may need more water less often. If the soil is sandy, they may need to be watered daily. Covering the entire root area with 4-5 inches of mulch will help conserve moisture. Laying a hose against the trunk of an established tree in the front yard doesn’t do much good in watering. Feeder roots are located farther from the trunks and need a direct supply of water. For every inch of trunk diameter, you need to water 1-1.5 feet of radius. If a tree is 5 inches in diameter, water 5-7 feet out from the trunk. The tree roots reach out much further than this, but many fine feeder roots that readily absorb the water are located within this area. For best watering results, Johnson recommends using soaker hoses and letting them run for several hours at a time. However, whether you use overhead sprinklers, soaker hoses or a bucket, the important thing is to provide water to your woody plants.
