Most people know to fuss over their vegetable and flower gardens with plenty of water, especially when drought conditions strike. But a lot of people mistakenly think that established trees are impervious to the effects of too much sun and not enough rain because their roots are nice and deep. That couldn’t be further from the truth, however, because trees still need to go through photosynthesis to survive, a feat that’s impossible to do without water. That said, watering a tree on the edge of one’s property is no easy feat because a lot of hoses don’t reach that far, which is why some people turn to a simple bucket to make it easier, faster, and even more effective.
Usually, trees can pull their water from moisture that has built up in the soil. However, when a drought lasts too long even the deep soil literally dries up. This can result in some pretty obvious signs that the tree is stressed, like wilting or even transitioning into winter dormancy too early. If you spy a tree that’s showing any of these signs, or if you want to prevent it from happening in the first place, grab a 5-gallon bucket and a couple of tools to create a convenient DIY watering system hack.
How to use a bucket to water trees effectively
This hack is so easy that it’s likely to become a staple practice for any amateur arborist. To do it, grab an old 5-gallon bucket or two. Then, drill a few holes on the side, close to the bottom of the bucket. Trees for Life Oregon suggests drilling 3/16-inch holes for best results. Then, fill up the bucket and carry it (if it’s not too far) or transport it in a wheelbarrow to the tree. Place the bucket near the tree trunk, but not flush up against it. The water will slowly drain via the holes. Then refill the bucket and repeat, moving the location so that it hits different root areas.
Young trees under three years old will need 15 gallons of water weekly. Older trees only need to be watered monthly during the summer but in greater amounts. The standard estimate is 10 gallons for every inch of the trunk’s diameter.
This is why slow bucket-watering is so effective
Some of the obvious beauty of the bucket-watering method is that it saves a lot of time since you won’t be standing there holding a hose (or potentially forgetting to turn it off, causing an expensive water bill). However, the main benefit is that this hack is far more efficient for the overall health of the tree.
When trees are watered slowly the roots are better able to absorb the incoming hydration, according to the Arbor Day Foundation. This is far preferable to dumping a whole bucket of water on a tree base because a lot of it will end up evaporating, or the roots will be too overwhelmed to accept it all.
You can also help the tree roots better absorb the water by adding a layer of mulch to the base of the tree. This will reduce water evaporation, plus it will stop weeds from coming up and hogging all of the water. It’s great to do this from the very beginning when a tree is first planted, but mulch can be added anytime for great results.
