Watering

By observation you can determine whether watering is needed. Trees with adequate water have leaves are a vibrant deep green color and are held out well away from the branch. A tree that is in water stress may have wilted leaves or their color is off.  If the leaves appear a dusty green (paler green) color rather than deep green the tree probably needs water. Once a tree has become established (which our trees do very quickly) there usually isn't a need to water during a drought unless it is severe.  In August 2008 central Ohio had very little rain and many trees were in water stress. Temperatures were in the 90's in early September which compounded the problem.  We do recommend watering to help them through this time.  If you find that during a drought your trees are dropping leaves this indicates water stress and you should water.  Some leaves will continue to drop even if you apply water in the short term.  Generally, the older leaves are shed first in response to inadequate water then younger leaves are dropped if the situation is not improved.  Another indicator of water stress is a tree beginning to turn its fall color in August or September.  Peak color week in central Ohio is about the second week of October.  Most trees should be holding their leaves and their green color until approximately then. Applying water by spraying the ground beneath the tree is not a particularly efficient way to water.  Most of this water runs off and does not soak in to the root area.  You would have to stand there for a prettty long time to make this an effective way to water and it is wasteful.  There are two or three easy ways to apply water which are efficient and thorough.  Each of them is effective because they apply a good volume over a long period of time.  Simply turning the hose on and letting a small amount trickle out overnight is a good way to water.  Another way to water thoroughly is by using a 5G bucket.  Drill a 1/16" or 3/32" hole in the bottom (or low down on the side of the bucket).  Fill the bucket with water and let it drain out beneath the tree.  Several buckets at once can be used for large trees and the buckets are inexpensive.  Some nursery's sell tree bags which hold water and drain slowly.  These work well but are expensive.  The roots that are actively absorbing water are not found around the trunk.  They are further out near the dripline. Water should be applied beneath the dripline...not beside the trunk. If trees are dropping leaves or turning their fall color early they will not regain their green leaves this year.  At this point in the growing season (early Sept) that is OK. In just a few weeks the trees will be losing their leaves anyway.  What you do not want to do now is fertilize your trees.  By fertilizing your trees they may begin to sprout new leaves and branches and it is too late for that after late August.  Frost and colder weather is coming and new growth would freeze off if it began now.

Fertilization

Fertilizing and watering is easily accomplished as one task. At the nursery we use water soluble fertilizers (Miracle-Gro or Peter's) at the labeled rate to feed all of our trees. Starting around Memorial Day you can fertilize once a month until August. After that time discontinue fertilization so the tree can harden off the new growth before frost.  Using the bucket method as outlined in our watering section you can water and fertilize in one step. Another way to fertilize is to use controlled release fertilizer (osmocote or nutricote). This product is a fertilizer in a slow release pill (called a prill). Apply at the labeled rate spreading the product on the ground around the tree. Don't leave it in a pile as it may burn the tree. Slow release fertilizer or water soluble fertilizers are both good ways to supply your trees with proper nutrition. The numbers on the fertilizers are not that important just don't overapply it thus potentially burning the tree. If you can get a fertilizer with "micros" (microelements:nutrients the tree needs in tiny amounts) that is better than getting one without micros. Although a good mulch will probably provide the micros your tree needs.