Watering Fruit Trees During Drought

If mulch is next to the tree the bark could rot.
Watering fruit trees during drought. The best means of applying this water for landscape trees is slowly with a soaker hose placed near the tree. Water trees during a drought. Established trees and shrubs do not generally need watering as they have such wide ranging roots that they are drought proof. All size trees should be watered especially during drought conditions because normal rainfall is non existent.
Be sure to water the entire root zone beneath the tree canopy. Drought stress causes wilting yellowing of the leaves advanced leaf fall and premature fruit ripening or fruit drop. It is far more efficient than applying a lot of water at once which ends up as run off. When water demand of a fruit tree is higher than supply drought stress occurs.
All trees should also receive adequate water during the winter months too but water can be less frequent. A small windbreak tree one planted a year or two ago still needs about 2 or 3 gallons of water a week. The less you water your fruit tree the deeper and wider the roots will grow in search of moisture. A 2 inch diameter tree measured at 6 inches above the ground should receive about 20 gallons of water a week during drought periods.
Often drought stress is associated with heat stress during the hot summer months. During times of drought the tables are turned. Add 3 4 inches of mulch. The trick is to water deeply ideally using a soaker hose to help the water reach a depth of 8 12 inches.
The trees in your yard need you. But during extended periods of drought all trees benefit from supplemental watering. But their growth may be improved by watering when they are under drought stress trees and shrubs planted less than five years ago have increased water requirements and may suffer drought stress without watering. Watering slowly allows the soil to capture more water molecules as it percolates.
This will increase the strength and vigor of the tree. According to skip richter county agent with the texas agrilife extension service in houston during periods of drought the goal is to provide just enough supplemental irrigation to maximize growth on young trees and to keep older established trees healthy. Mulching helps the tree retain moisture. In drought deeply water young trees with 5 15 gallons of water weekly from april through october.
Keep the mulch at least 6 inches from the trunk. Spread the mulch all around the tree. If you can spare the water water large trees twice a month. The best time to water is typically in the morning.
From november to march reduce watering to every other week.