Watering tree in clay soil - Ask Extension
Hi, do you recommend any adjustments to the recommended watering schedule if the tree is planted in clay soil? Thank you!
Knowledgebase
Watering tree in clay soil #870107
Asked May 25, 2024, 9:38 PM EDT
Hi, do you recommend any adjustments to the recommended watering schedule if the tree is planted in clay soil? Thank you!
Dakota County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for your question.
Here is some information. I might do better with a picture of the tree, its type, age, etc
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs/
Here is some information. I might do better with a picture of the tree, its type, age, etc
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs/
Hi, I’m not sure of its age. I included a picture. We planted it this past Thursday. It was in a 10 gallon container. It’s an Ivory Silk Lilac. We watered it with about 4 gallons Thursday and another 3-4 on Friday. We did not water it Saturday (yesterday).
We added compost and soil to the planting hole, along with soil from the yard.
I’m being overly cautious, we just dug up a crabapple that never grew roots past the initial hole. It died, which is why we got the Ivory Silk.
Our neighbor is fairly windy so we staked the tree, but are replacing the stake with a type that won’t touch the trunk unless it sways a lot.
Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for writing back.
With your hands scape the mulch for a one foot circle around where the tree enters the ground of the tree and send me a picture of the bottom six inches of the tree including the dirt at the base circle.
Steve Miles
Hi, here’s the base of the tree with the mulch pushed out by of the way, and the bottom of the trunk.
Thank you.
Thank you for writing back.
The tree looks properly planted.
Two things--make sure the ties are not strangling the tree.
Second, as the old crabapple's roots die, bacteria will move in to consume the roots. They will intercept nutrients going to your tree. Double vertilize this tree for a couple seasons. Do not use stakes but use a granular sustained release fertilizer.
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-replant-new-tree-same-spot-after-old-tree-has-been-removed#:~:text=The%20site%20of%20a%20removed,have%20enough%20room%20to%20grow.
The tree looks properly planted.
Two things--make sure the ties are not strangling the tree.
Second, as the old crabapple's roots die, bacteria will move in to consume the roots. They will intercept nutrients going to your tree. Double vertilize this tree for a couple seasons. Do not use stakes but use a granular sustained release fertilizer.
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-replant-new-tree-same-spot-after-old-tree-has-been-removed#:~:text=The%20site%20of%20a%20removed,have%20enough%20room%20to%20grow.
I appreciate the information!
Considering the clay soil in our yard, do you suggest any adjustments in the watering schedule?
Thank you.
Thank you for writing back.
Water twice a week. The issue here is nutrient deprivation because of the old tree site.
Water twice a week. The issue here is nutrient deprivation because of the old tree site.
