Trees need water to survive. But too much water can actually lead to trouble. So, how do you ensure that you’re properly watering your trees?
Many homeowners turn to tree watering bags to remove the guesswork. While tree water bags can be very useful, using them improperly can cause more harm than good. Water bags tend to work best for newly planted trees or newly transplanted trees.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you ought to know about tree water bags as well as how to properly water the trees on your property.
Jump To:
Why Watering is Critical for Newly Planted Trees in New England
What are Tree Watering Bags?
How Do Tree Watering Bags Work?
Are Tree Watering Bags a Good Idea?
Common Mistakes Homeowners Make in Watering New Trees
FAQs About Tree Watering Bags
Choosing Arborist Services in Southern NH, Northeastern MA, and Southern ME
Why Watering is Critical for Newly Planted Trees in New England
Keeping newly planted trees properly watered is important. After being installed, a new tree has likely lost some of its roots. Watering helps the remaining roots to grow and spread, which is important for the tree to become established.
We have some helpful advice on caring for newly planted trees in another article.
The goal of watering should be to keep the root ball moist. You can most likely achieve this by watering every other day during the first couple of weeks that your tree is planted.
Watering bags for new trees is another possibility, but it’s really important that you don’t end up overwatering the tree. The reason watering bags can help is that they remove a lot of the guesswork. Instead of having to constantly drag a hose out, it’s more of a “set-it-and-forget-it” option.
But there are still things that can go wrong with this option.
What are Tree Watering Bags?
Tree watering bags are basically just what they sound like. They are heavy-duty bags which wrap around the base of a tree and then slowly release water into the soil over several hours. They are designed to provide slow and steady water that soaks down to the root zone.
You might have also heard these called tree gator bags. That’s a popular brand name, actually spelled “Treegator,” that has been interchangeably used to talk about any watering bag brand. This is much like when people say “Kleenex” in exchange for “tissue” whether they’re talking about the brand or not.
How Do Tree Watering Bags Work?
Tree watering bags work through the process of drip irrigation. The bags have tiny holes in them that allow the water to slowly release over a longer period of time (usually 5-9 hours, depending on the bag).
This slow process allows the soil to absorb the water slowly and for the water to penetrate deeply. This is healthiest for the trees since it allows the water to reach the root zone, where it’s really needed.
Are Tree Watering Bags a Good Idea?
There can definitely be a use for tree watering bags, particularly for new or recently transplanted trees. However, at Seacoast Tree Care, we don’t necessarily outright recommend them as they can also be misused and cause more damage than good in some cases.
However, when used properly, they can be beneficial.
The biggest problem is when they contribute to overwatering because of refilling them too often. Homeowners should be careful to still check the soil and make sure it’s not being oversaturated.
Bottom line: Although it’s a “set-it-and-forget-it” type of option, you still need to keep tabs on it.
Common Mistakes Homeowners Make in Watering New Trees
Watering is one of the most important things that you can do for your newly planted trees but it’s also something that can go awry if you aren’t careful.
Here are a few of the most common mistakes that we see when it comes to watering new trees.
Watering too much or too often
In the beginning, the goal should be to keep the root ball moist but definitely not saturated. You want to water deeply so that it reaches the root zone but then you should allow the soil to dry out before watering again.
Constantly saturating the soil can lead to root decline as you’re actually going to end up drowning the roots. It can also lead to problems like root rot.
Watering too little
As you might have guessed, too little water can also be a problem. You do want the water to penetrate down to the root zone (down about 6 to 12 inches). To achieve this, you want to water slowly and steadily. A soaker hose or a tree water bag can be good for this since it supplies slow and steady water drip.
But things can still go wrong with a water bag if you wind up oversaturating the soil. You don’t need to constantly refill the water bag just because it emptied. You also want to make sure that you’re still paying attention to rain fall. After a heavy rain, you might not need to use a watering bag or a hose.
Stopping your watering schedule too soon
Homeowners are often diligent about watering their new trees once they’re first planted. But after a couple of weeks they may fall off. But trees can easily take one or more years to become established and during that time, their watering needs are going to be more substantial.
When you use gator bags for trees, it can remove some of the guesswork and help you keep up. You just want to make sure you’re using them properly and that you’re not overwatering.
FAQs About Tree Watering Bags
Are tree watering bags good for mature trees?
Generally speaking, tree watering bags are not useful for mature trees as they are designed for newly planted trees with a more concentrated root system. As a tree grows and matures the root system becomes expansive and a watering bag is not going to be helpful.
How long should a watering bag stay on a tree?
Generally speaking, you can use a tree water bag for the entire “establishment period” for the new tree. That’s usually around 6 months to a year for small trees and 1-2 years for larger trees. Once a tree is established and the root system has spread, a water bag is not going to be effective.
Are tree watering bags more effective than a hose?
It’s not that a tree watering bag is more effective than a hose, it’s that homeowners often tend to water too briefly when they’re standing there with a hose. Watering bags remove the guesswork since you just leave them there.
A soaker hose or a sprinkler could also achieve a slow watering and doesn’t require you standing there holding a hose.
What is the best way to water my trees?
The best way to water your trees is whatever method will help you water them properly. For some homeowners, a tree gator bag can simplify the process. But if they lead you to overwater your tree, then you’ll need a different method.
The goal whenever watering a tree is to water deeply. Imagine a soaking rain. You want the water to get deep into the soil.
Choosing Arborist Services in Southern NH, Northeastern MA, and Southern ME
Caring for trees can involve a tremendous amount of know-how and expertise, particularly as they become established. For that reason, you’ll likely want to partner with a tree care company that can help you make the best choices for your New England property.
There are plenty of companies offering tree care in Southern NH, Northeastern Massachusetts, and Southern Maine. But it’s important to be selective and find a company that you feel is best-qualified to meet your needs.
When you make a wise choice in tree care companies, you can let go of the worries associated with taking care of trees and simply get back to enjoying them for all of the benefits they have to offer.
At Seacoast Tree Care, we’re committed to preserving the health and beauty of trees in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts by performing vital services like tree pruning, tree removal, and general tree care the right way.
We’re also here to offer helpful tree care tips so that you can be well-educated on what your trees need. That includes guiding you through those early stages of how to care for newly planted trees. We want to help set you up for success so you can enjoy those new trees for many years to come.
Ready for safer and healthier trees at your New Hampshire, Maine, or Massachusetts home? Request your consultation and get a quote. We service properties in and around Stratham, NH, Kittery, ME, and Haverhill, MA. By making a wise choice, you’ll know your trees are in good hands.
Image Sources: watering hose, treegator bag label, trees with watering bags, young tree in a gator bag, street tree in a watering bag
