Homeowner guides

Tree Watering Guide

A one-page homeowner guide that settles the most common tree-care mistake: watering wrong. Deep and slow, out where the roots actually are.

Free downloadPDF · 1 page · 728 KBWG-001
Free download

Tree Watering Guide

PDF · 728 KB · 1 page

Create a free account to download

Free forever, no card. One account unlocks every TreeNerd freebie, the jobsite tools and CEU tracking. Already have one? Sign in.

More trees are hurt by bad watering than by drought. This sheet shows the simple version: soak the soil about 12 inches deep at the drip line, not against the trunk, with one or two long soaks a week instead of a daily splash.

There's a clear do/don't list and a cross-section diagram of where the water needs to go, plus a note that new trees need weekly water for the first year or two. Pros: it's a clean leave-behind with room for your company name and phone.

What's inside

  • The 'deep and slow' rule explained in plain English
  • Why you water the drip line, not the trunk
  • A simple weekly schedule (and how new trees differ)
  • A cross-section diagram of the root zone
  • A do / don't list to stop overwatering and root rot
For homeowners (and pros to hand out) — and it's free to use on real jobs.

Questions

How often should I water my tree?
Established trees usually want one or two deep soaks a week in dry weather — enough to wet the soil about 12 inches down. Newly planted trees need water weekly for the first one to two years while roots establish.
Should I water at the trunk?
No. The feeder roots sit out near the edge of the canopy (the drip line). Water that ring, not the stem — water piled against the trunk invites rot.

More free downloads

See all free downloads →