The heatwave is approaching. Watering fruit trees properly pays off

The weather forecast is rather unforgiving. We can expect daytime temperatures to exceed 30 degrees Celsius, whilst night-time temperatures won’t drop much below 20 degrees Celsius. In weather like this, you need to tend to your garden and water it thoroughly. That much is quite clear. But it’s certainly worth looking after your fruit trees as well. They undoubtedly deserve a good amount of water too. It’s simply not true that fruit trees don’t need watering at all. They do need to be watered. How? We’ll tell you in the following paragraphs.

Young trees, in particular, deserve water

Undoubtedly. This is because their root systems aren’t as well-developed as those of mature trees. Thanks to sufficient moisture, young trees can grow at the right pace and subsequently bear fruit in sufficient quantities. It is important for them that their root structure develops fully, which is impossible without water. Thanks to moisture, the soil settles much better around the root ball, which is essential. We should water younger trees once or twice a week. It all depends on the weather and the size of the trees.

Photo: Pixabay

Beware of over-watering fruit trees

Although trees do require a fair amount of water, over-watering is not advisable. The water will simply run off very quickly and provide very little benefit. Trees should be watered less frequently, but for a longer period each time. Slow, steady watering ensures the water reaches the roots, allowing the tree to thrive perfectly. After all, a tree’s roots are found in the lower layers of the soil. You shouldn’t just water around the trunk, but also a little further away from it. This ensures the water reaches everywhere it’s needed. Roots often extend as far from the tree as its crown.

Tip: Watering mistakes that ruin vegetables and flowers. Do you make them too?

Go for rainwater

That’s right, rainwater is absolutely ideal. However, it’s often not enough – especially if you don’t have a large storage tank. It’s a good idea to run a hose to the tree and let the water flow very slowly. It will gradually seep deep into the soil. It should reach a depth of about 1 metre. A young tree needs between 40 and 80 litres of water.

Sources: Author, Meta, https://www.plantmegreen.com/blogs/news/how-much-water-should-you-give-your-fruit-trees

Photo: Pixabay