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Tree Watering Devices
This article describes six devices that can be used to water trees. A description and the basic use of each device is covered.
It takes more than just running a sprinkler a few minutes a week to give trees the water they need. Tree watering devices that provide the slow delivery of plenty of water will make sure the liquid soaks in and reaches the roots so that the trees are able to use it efficiently.
Simple Bucket Irrigation
A 5-gallon bucket or a plastic trash can with a couple of small holes poked in the bottom is good for small trees. It will deliver water slowly, allowing it to soak into the ground. Set the bucket close to -- but not touching -- the trunk of a small tree, fill it and allow the water to drain out slowly. Move the bucket around the tree and water it in several places each time you water.
Try an Ooze Tube
An Ooze Tube is a brand-name bag device that looks something like a big doughnut. It encircles the trunk of a young tree and needs to be staked in place. It can be filled with a garden hose and then left to deliver the water to the tree over a period of several hours.
Soaking With a Soaker Hose
A soaker hose is made of porous material that allows water to seep out slowly, giving it time to soak into the ground. These can be used on trees of any size, They should be laid out along the drip line, at the edge of the canopy, for large trees. It may take all day to fully water a large tree.
It's possible to make your own soaker hose by purchasing soaker tubing in whatever length you need and then adding fittings -- the same as you'd use for drip irrigation lines -- to connect it to a faucet. The 1/4-inch tubing is smaller than standard soaker hoses, so it may fit more easily into your landscape.
Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation systems can get quite complicated, but they don’t have to be. The basic components of a drip irrigation system include a hose or tubing, emitters that release the water, a control valve and a pressure regulator. Some advantages of drip irrigation include the ability to automate the system with a timer and that you can leave it in place indefinitely.
Surround it With a Treegator
A Treegator is a commercially available device that looks something like a teepee wrapped around the trunk of a tree. It’s best for watering small trees and can hold enough water for a complete soaking from a single filling. It’s especially effective in very dry conditions, since it ensures that the water gets to the tree roots and doesn’t end up evaporating on the ground.
Go Underground W
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A root feeder is a device made for delivering fertilizer directly to the roots of trees, but it can also be used for watering. It consists of a series of hollow prongs on a cross bar connected to a long, straight tube which can be connected to a hose. The prongs are pushed into the ground near the tree’s root zone, and the water is allowed to trickle through it to reach the tree.
Tip
See Lawn Care Watering Tips for helpful information about irrigating your turfgrass,
