TIFFIN, Ohio – July 2, 2024 – It’s been pretty hard to mistake the current weather for anything but an early northwest Ohio summer. If you aren’t soaked from a stray shower, then you’re probably soaked in sweat from the humidity. On the bright side, the regularly occurring rainfall is great for our young trees! However, as the rain decides to slow down, Susan Carty from Tiffin’s Shade Tree Commission reminds us of some best practices for tree watering:
Care is important especially the first three years after planting, you do not want to kill a $100.00 tree by forgetting to water it. The amount and frequency of watering depends on the soil drainage and weather conditions but in general new trees should get about two gallons per diameter inch of the trunk per week, more frequently during hot dry periods.
Check the soil around your tree, and primarily water around the root ball and just outside it for young trees. Use 3-4” of mulch, kept clear from the tree trunk, to help retain moisture. And remember not to overwater! Weekly, heavy watering (if nature doesn’t keep doing it for us) can be much more beneficial than a daily, light watering. The former encourages deeper, stronger root growth, where the latter encourages a shallow and more vulnerable root system. For more information, Susan recommends the US Forest Service’s Tree Owner’s Manual (rev. 2021), available at: