[Arid_gardener] Re:Watering an Ash Tree

[Olin Miller]

The usual recommendation is to insert a metal rod into the tree well at 
the edge of the canopy after all of the water has soaked in.  Number 3 
rebar (3/8" dia.) works pretty well.  The rod should penetrate easily to 
a depth of 2-3 feet.  How frequently depends which ash tree you are 
talking about and on the drainage and water holding capacity of the 
soil.  The soil around the roots should be allowed to become nearly dry 
before watering again.  Most ash trees are pretty high water use trees 
so it would average about 2-3 times each month during the hot summer 
months and every 3-4 weeks in the spring and fall.  Our "evergreen" 
Shamel ash tree sometimes loses it leaves in the winter and sometimes 
not.  It gets watered once or twice in the winter months.

Olin Miller
Master Gardener Volunteer, Maricopa County AZ

"The opinions or statements expressed herein are my own and should
 not be taken as a position, opinion, or endorsement of
the University of Arizona."
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----- Original Message ----- From: "randy chaloupka" <rdczz99 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 1:01 PM

> Do you know of any good way to determine if I'm overwatering or 
> underwatering.  The arborist recommended getting a tensiometer, 
> however I checked at a nursery and they said it was too small to work 
> on my tree's (which are about 20' tall and about 8 years old or so).
>