Trees are a long term investment, watering them regularly in the first year (and even into the second year) will set them up for success. Trees are also slow to complain about losing water. Some may not show symptoms of drought stress until the following year or the year after, so being proactive in watering is important!

Watering for deciduous trees weekly May-October for the first 2 years is a great plan. If it rains 1-2” in a week, you can plan to hold off. Evergreen trees will appreciate watering up until we hit persistent cold (by mid-November.) They can especially suffer if we have dry cold periods since they maintain foliage through the cold dry months, when we humans tend to forget to water plants.  

Watering through the first season is crucial to establish a root system for the long term.  Treat your tree or shrub like a baby- you have to check the diaper!  Dig 4” down around the root ball… is it too dry?  Is it too wet?  Adjust watering appropriately.

When, where and how to water your trees

• When: Between May to October, pay attention to rainfall and temperature. Weekly watering is essential within the first season and at least bi-weekly watering in the second season. If you’re unsure, check the soil around the root ball to see if it’s moist or dry. Watering in the daytime is better than watering at night.
• Where: Watering at the base of the tree is important and along the dripline of the branches. (The “dripline” is the perimeter of the branches’ extension.) 
• How: Watering deeply, to a depth of 12” inches below the soil surface is ideal, which is  typically about 20-30 minutes of water at a slow trickle  (think more than a drip; less than full flow.) You should not see water running off and away from the tree, but flowing down. This can vary based on your soil type. If you can’t use a hose, slowly water with buckets; 25 gallons is ideal at a slow rate.

DO:

• Use a garden or soaker hose to water your trees. 

• • Garden hoses can be turned on at a slow trickle and set on a root ball of a tree. During hot and dry weather, you can water a tree with a trunk that is 2 1/2″ in diameter for approximately a half-hour, moving the hose around the tree. Hoses are ideal for watering a single plant, tree or shrubs.
  • Soaker hoses or dripline irrigation can also be used with multiple trees or shrubs in combination with a timer to water regularly.
  • Mulch 2-3 inches in a bowl shape around the base of the tree. Mulch will help retain moisture as well as reduce erosion.

DON’T:

• Use Sprinklers: Sprinklers or spray heads for watering a lawn do not do a good job for trees. They may work for grass and small perennial flowers, but they will not water deeply enough.  If using sprinklers for the lawn, adjust the spray pattern so they do not hit the tree. 
• Water Too Often: No trees should need to be watered more than 2 times a week. They prefer deep watering, but too often can rot the roots. 

• Too Much Pressure: Do not use too much water pressure to the point that mulch or soil washes out

• Water on Foliage: The leaves do not need to be watered, just the soil around the tree.  Too much water on leaves can lead to fungus.

Need help maintaining your outdoor living space? 

The Heath Outdoor and Spotts Garden Service teams are standing by, ready to make your outdoor living easier and better. Give us a call today. 

About Heath Outdoor

Heath Outdoor, a premier, local, family-owned landscaping company established in 2009, proudly serves the vibrant communities of Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Strategically located in the heart of Indianapolis, we extend our expert landscaping and hardscaping services to both commercial and residential customers in Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Geist, Noblesville, Zionsville, Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, McCordsville, Greenwood and beyond. 

Design and build services include:

Custom gardens and landscapes, paver patios and walkways, water features and recreation ponds, custom outdoor fire pits and fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, pool and spa vaults, tiny houses, storage sheds, pergolas and decks, retaining walls, fencing and playgrounds. 

Commercial and residential property maintenance services include: 

Mowing, mulching, planting and watering service, irrigation and drainage system installation and repairs, seasonal property clean-ups, and snow and ice management. In 2024, Heath Outdoor added eco-focused private gardening and garden coaching to our property maintenance services through a partnership with Spotts Garden Service. 

Custom event decor services: 

Planning a wedding or other celebratory event and looking to create an extraordinary backdrop? Let the event design team at Heath Outdoor transform your space with rental plants, lighting and custom structures. We’ll work with your event designer to bring the vision for your event to life and create an experience your guests will never forget. 

Why Heath Outdoor?

We’re not just in the business of landscaping—we’re in the business of finding solutions and bringing dreams to life. Whether it’s crafting breathtaking commercial outdoor spaces or creating custom outdoor living areas from scratch, we’ve got the passion, expertise, creativity and team to make it happen. 

At Heath Outdoor, we’re also committed to giving back to the community, through our Juneteenth service project, annual participation in the Indy Pride parade, Butter Art Fair and Feast of Lanterns sponsorship and neighborhood beautification efforts. 

The Hurst Brothers family of companies

Heath Outdoor is a Hurst Brothers company. Other brands in the Hurst Brothers family of companies include: Indy Insulation and Spray Company and Spotts Garden Service.

Ready to transform your outdoor space?