Mt. Prospect forestry department says it’s time to water trees

The lack of precipitation combined with very high temperatures has seriously stressed many landscape plants, especially recent plantings, according to Mount Prospect Forestry/Grounds Superintendent Sandy Clark.

Clark said it is important to try to provide trees with at least one inch of water every seven to 10 days. Thorough, deep waterings are much better than frequent shallow ones.

“Luckily, watering is easy to do and inexpensive considering the numerous benefits that trees provide,” she said. “In fact, it costs less than $4 to water a 3-inch diameter tree for the entire summer!”

Although there are several ways to properly water a tree, Clark recommends running a sprinkler inside the dripline (that’s the area on the ground directly beneath the tree’s crown, extending all the way out to the furthest branches). Place a tuna can in this area and when it’s full, you’ll know you have applied about 1”-2” of water and can turn off the sprinkler.

Another effective means of watering a small tree is letting a hose run slowly at its base until the ground is moist. For large trees, let the hose run at various points around the tree’s dripline. Soaker hoses used within the dripline area are also effective.

Clark offered the following additional watering tips:

Ÿ Maintaining a mulch ring around trees (3-4” thick, not touching the trunk but extending out toward the branch tips as far as possible) helps retain vital moisture.

Ÿ Water slowly and deeply so water percolates down into the soil, electing one or two deep waterings as opposed to several light ones.

Ÿ Plants vary in their ability to tolerate water stress. Prioritize watering, caring for newly transplanted trees and shrubs first, then those that have been in the ground from 2 to 5 years and have underdeveloped root systems. Next, water “specimen” trees or important trees, then all other plants.

Ÿ Note that lawns may not need much watering, since grass plants have the ability to go dormant when dry and green up again when water is available. Dormant lawns can generally be kept alive, but not green, if they receive about 1/2 inch of water every two to three weeks.

Ÿ Water strategically. Plants absorb more water in the early morning, before the warming sun can cause evaporation.

Ÿ Water shrubs at the plant base and under the spread of branches until soil is moistened to a depth of 6 to 8 inches.

Ÿ Avoid using fertilizer during drought conditions. Fertilizer salts can cause root injury when soil moisture is limited.