A Simple Tool to Help Mature Trees Get Through Drought

Are your mature trees looking stressed in the current drought conditions? A soaker hose can be a great solution to give your trees some much needed relief and also save as much water as possible. The soaker hose is very easy to install. Just wrap it around the base of your tree, attach to a garden hose and your ready. Turn your water on and then the soaker hose will deliver the water in a slow drip so the ground can more readily absorb the water and reduce run off. Ensuring that precious resource is going right into the root zone.

Leave the soaker hose on for about two hours at each watering. Watering about once a week should do the trick and help them along until we start getting some rainfall.

To make sure the ground is well saturated after watering, you can use a long screwdriver to test. If you cannot easily push the screwdriver into the ground then that means the ground is still dry. If it slips right in all the way to the handle then you are good to go!

Giving our landscape trees supplemental water during times like these is paramount in keeping them healthy and thriving. Not only will it save the beauty that our trees provide but it can also save us and our homes from hazardous situations such as falling branches or the tree failing and becoming at risk of falling in the next strong storm. Drooping, falling leaves or any discoloration could be a sign they are in desperate need of a drink!

Our trees (especially mature ones) provide so much for us, local wildlife and our natural ecosystem. So keeping them healthy is of the utmost importance. Supplement water as needed and know that we will get through these harsh times. But until it's all about watering and watering smart!

Happy gardening everyone!