Maintaining Newly Planted Trees While Conserving Water
For the first 2 to 3 years after a tree is planted, the area around the
base of the tree should be kept moist at all times. During a drought,
when it is important to conserve water, you should use every
available method to ensure this area doesn't dry out.
1. If you have a rain barrel, connect a garden hose to it and
use it to water your tree, as long as water is available. If
small children are using a splash pool to stay cool, you can
reuse use the water from it to water your tree. The water
collected by a dehumidifier is another excellent source of
water for your tree.
2. Maintain mulch around the base of the tree. Doing so will
help keep the soil moist. Be sure not to pile mulch against
the trunk of the tree as this can cause the bark to decay.
This can also lead to insect and disease problems. Keep
mulch 15 cm from the base of the tree.
3. Direct water to the perimeter of the mulched area of the tree.
When newly planted trees, like the one shown here are dug
up at the nursery, they lose as much as 95% of their root
system. After planting, the tree spends the next 2 to 3 years
recovering and growing new roots while establishing itself to
its new environment. That's why it's important to keep the
perimeter edge of the planting area moist in order to
encourage root growth outward from the tree rather than up
into the surrounding mulch.
4. The amount of water needed will vary depending on the type
of soil that exists, where the tree is planted and weather
conditions. For this reason, it is best to keep the dashed
area, shown in blue moist. Do not let it dry out!
Trees are precious. They clean our air and our water and make
Toronto a better place to live. Help keep our urban forest growing.