Watering Your Fruit Tree

Now the weather is warming up it is important to ensure you regularly water your fruit trees, particularly any new trees, to ensure that their roots establish in their new home. Watering is probably the most important thing you can do to support new trees during their first season.  On average a bucket of water once a week is adequate, applied slowly so that it percolates through the soil.  If the weather is particularly warm or dry you may need to increase this to 2 or 3 times a week.

Handy Hint - Little and often is the best way to water your fruit trees, allowing the soil to dry out a little in between each session.  If you allow the ground to become too water-logged this can be just as damaging to the tree as not watering it at all!

Several methods of watering can be used, including soaker hoses, watering stakes or simply using a watering can.  The main thing to remember is that the water needs to soak through the soil to the roots of the tree. It is ok if the top of the soil is dry so long as it is damp underneath. Creating a moat around the base of the tree is often a good way to prevent water from washing away from the tree, ensuring your watering is more efficient.






Handy Hint - Mulch placed a few inches from the trunk of the tree can help keep the soil moist and cool; it also stops water evaporating as quickly from the soil.  However it is important to make sure that you are careful when using mulch as it can damage the tree is not used correctly.  The mulch must not touch the tree trunk and it must be very well rotted to ensure there are no toxins left in it which could poison the tree. In addition you need to make sure the mulch is put on lightly to allow air to filter through it, otherwise it may encourage rot or pests around the tree. 

Following the first year you do not need to be quite as attentive to the tree, however it is still wise to water it just before, during and just after the main blossoming period and around harvest time.  The more effectively you water your fruit tree the stronger it will grow and the better the fruit will be that it produces.