It's 100 degrees+ how often to water new trees?

[jhawks482]

We're in a period of 100 degrees (or more) and will be for at least 10 more days. I have about 9 trees (river birches, Bosnian pine, red bud, and a few maples- one which is over 30 feet) and they have all been planted either last fall or this spring.
Typically I'd let up on the water since they are "out of the first planting season" but I feel like letting them go even a week between a good watering in this heat is too much- especially for the birches. Should I do twice weekly? Gosh, I just never know- even if I stick my finger in the soil to check, I just don't know if they have enough water. Any thoughts?

[treedimensional]

Although this is research from FL, much of it will be true for other areas.
edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep113
How is a tree planted that recently already 30' tall? How big was it when you bought it (and how did you get it home???)?

[jhawks482]

Thanks for that link- it looks really helpful and Im going to look at it a little more in-depth a bit later. As for the large tree, it's an October glory and we planted it last fall. A local nursery in town runs a 50% off one item special, once a year in the fall. We took advantage big time- I believe that tree was about $650. The nursery delivered it for us since it weighed nearly a ton (so they said).

[treedimensional]

Goodlord. But I do believe it. BB trees are ungodly heavy.
One important thing: larger trees are harder to establish than smaller ones. Be liberal with the water.

[jhawks482]

Good to know, thanks. On the one hand, it has a much larger (deeper) root ball, so I figured it would need water longer than all the other ones which have much smaller root systems. But i didn't know it would have a tougher time getting established. It's pretty much like our 3rd child, lol. Out of all our trees, I'd be the most upset if we ever lost that one! Thanks again.