How To Give Trees A Deep Watering When The Hose Doesn't Reach

When watering the plants in our gardens, many of us often overlook a particular plant type: trees. It's easy to assume that the trees in your yard are just fine and that you never need to do anything to take care of them. However, this simply isn't the case. You specifically need to consider whether you are watering the newly planted trees in your lawn frequently enough. Young trees (up to three or five years old, depending on the species) can require a lot of care and watering. This is even more true right after they're planted in the ground. Even an older, well-established tree could still benefit from some water if there are drought-like conditions present. Using the hose to water your trees is the easiest solution. The problem with this approach, however, is that trees are often planted along the edges of our property. They may simply be too far away for a standard garden hose to reach.

Fortunately, there is a relatively simple solution to this problem. Pick up a wheelbarrow watering bag online or from your local nursery. These special bags make it much easier to transport water to your trees than it would be if you were to try to carry several heavy bucketfuls at a time.

If your hose isn't long enough to reach trees in your yard, you can still help them get the moisture they need without hauling heavy buckets of water. A 5-gallon bucket filled with water weighs around 40 pounds. Instead, with a wheelbarrow watering bag, such as the Highlight Premium Wheelbarrow Water Bag, you can significantly decrease the amount of time and effort you'll need to exert while still ensuring that your trees don't get too thirsty. These large, thick bags, which typically hold about 20 gallons of water, are designed to fit in a standard wheelbarrow. Once filled up, you can simply push the wheelbarrow to transport the water to your trees before tipping it to send the water out through the built-in spout. After you've finished watering the trees in your yard, you won't need to worry about coming up with a creative storage solution for yet another bulky landscaping tool. Watering bags are made from a thick, yet flexible and foldable plastic material. They're easy to store on a shelf in the garage or shed.

While there is a lot to love about watering bags, there are also some potential downsides. First, you'll still have to physically move the heavy water to the trees. While this should be easier with a wheelbarrow than with a bucket, pushing 40 pounds might not be feasible for everyone. Additionally, some individuals who have purchased a wheelbarrow bag have expressed frustration with holes forming along the creases where the bag was folded. These holes lead to water leaking from the bag.

A watering bag is only one possible solution that can help you get the necessary water to your far-away trees. Another option is to try a tree watering bag, such as the Remiawy Slow-Release Watering Bag for Trees. These bags can be wrapped around a tree's trunk and will slowly release the multiple gallons of water they hold over several hours. You could even DIY a similar system with a genius bucket hack for tree watering. Simply drill a small hole in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket before filling it with water and placing it next to your tree trunk. As with the watering bags, the water will be released slowly, allowing it to seep into the soil. If you're worried about water spilling out when you carry the bucket across your yard, you could either use the wheelbarrow watering bag above to fill it up once it is in place, or you could stick a second hole-free bucket beneath it and carry them together. Then, simply dump any water that leaked into the lower bucket into the watering one, and it will be good to go.

Another key tip is to make sure you're mulching around your trees, especially if you're worried about their hydration needs being met. Mulch helps soil to retain moisture around the tree, keeping it readily available when needed. Beyond increasing moisture levels, the mulch also helps to keep the soil surrounding the tree cooler, which can help the roots become healthy and well-established. When mulching around a tree, aim to apply a layer that is at least 2 inches — and up to 4 inches — deep.