Keeping Saskatoon’s urban forest beautiful: Fall watering tips for healthy trees
Trees help to make our communities beautiful and improve our quality of life by helping to regulate our climate, reduce air pollution, protect our soil and water resources, and provide habitat for wildlife. Protecting and conserving urban forests through proper management is vital to sustaining healthy communities. Saskatoon is well-known for its oasis of trees. Residents and visitors enjoy the benefits and quality of life they provide.
Unfortunately, urban trees are often faced with difficult environmental conditions and tree care is not only about pruning and trimming the trees, but it also includes watering them. When it comes to fall tree care, it is not a matter of whether you should water the trees in and around your property in autumn but knowing the right time and quantity. The City has some great seasonal tips to help residents keep trees healthy and ready for the spring.
Watering tips
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Adequate water is critical for the establishment of new trees and beneficial to the health of established trees.
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The amount of water that a tree requires depends on the type of soil, the age of the tree, the species of tree, plant site characteristics and the amount of rainfall.
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Simply watering the grass or turf around a tree does not supply enough moisture for the tree’s root system.
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The best method is to let a hose flow slowly, about 15cm (6”) away from the tree trunk, until the area is moist to a depth of 6-9 inches.
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It is important to soak the area outside of the root zone to encourage the roots to grow out in a radial – or circular – pattern.
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In late autumn, before the ground freezes and after the trees drop their leaves, give them a deep watering and ensure that the water reaches their roots. This will make your trees and shrubs strong enough to handle winter storms and high winds.
Does snowmelt offer enough moisture?
The problem with snowmelt is that snow sits atop frozen ground. Even if we get a mild day or two mid-winter, the tree’s roots cannot access the water. Watering deeply before the ground freezes gives roots access to it on milder days and in early spring before the ground thaws. Ensuring the soil is moist at least 1-2 feet down encourages proper root growth.
For more information on how to keep trees healthy visit saskatoon.ca/treecare