Waterwise Solutions for Healthy Trees

If you’re looking to conserve your water bill while still ensuring that your trees, plants, and pollinators are well taken care of, some of our other irrigation solutions might be right for you!

Mulch

Why should I put Mulch around my tree?

Mulch helps the soil stay moist, stops soil from washing away, keeps weeds from taking water and nutrients, and protects the tree trunk from lawnmowers. 

How to Install Mulch 

Spread a 3-inch layer of mulch in a circle that is 3 to 4 feet wide around the base of your tree. Make sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk so the tree can “breathe.” Mulch should be in a “Donut” around the tree trunk, NOT a “Volcano”. And make sure the root flare is exposed!

• Correct Mulch: the root flare is exposed and the mulch is in a “donut” shape
• Incorrect Mulch: the root flare is too deep and the mulch is in a “volcano” shape

Free & Low Cost Mulch

• City of Denver Mulch Giveaway : Free, Registration Is Required
• Chip Drop: Free

Manual Tree Watering

Slow release, portable, steady drip-irrigation systems

Gator bags, tree diapers, watering rings, self watering spikes, DIY drip irrigation buckets – there are a lot of options out there for getting water to your tree. Each of these has pros and cons and none of them are required for successful tree care. We don’t recommend any one specifically so definitely do your research on the options out there. All of them need water to work! We know this seems silly to say but you’d be surprised how many empty gator bags we see gathering dust around trees. It’s also important to emphasize that they don’t replace watering completely. We recommend giving your tree the recommended dose of water and then filling your steady drip-irrigation system to provide consistent moisture in between waterings.

If you’ve received materials from us, you may have received a TreeDiaper. In addition to holding water you apply (like you would fill a tree watering ring), this product passively absorbs rain and/or irrigation water as well. The hydrogel pellets absorb and hold the water for an extended time. Water is slowly released to the soil and tree roots. This helps trees and shrubs grow strong roots and stay healthy for a long time. If the plant gets too much water, the gels will soak it up to stop the roots from rotting. This is important to note because in arid or dry climates, you don’t want your tree diaper absorbing water that should go to the roots. It’s important to monitor soil and diaper moisture! You can put mulch on top of it but be careful not to let the mulch pool at the base of the tree.

• What is TreeDiaper?
• A case study from Colorado on Tree Diapers
• How to Install a TreeDiaper®/SteadySpring®

Irrigation Bucket

A 5-Gallon Bucket & Drip Hose System allows water to slowly be released to keep your young tree watered and healthy.

How To Use

Setup:

• Place the bucket next to the tree.
• Wrap the drip hose around the tree, about 6″ away from the trunk.

Timing:

• A full bucket of water should take about 30 minutes to 1 hour for the water to soak into the ground.
• Trees need about 10 gallons of water for every inch of trunk thickness (measured near the base).
• So for a new tree, you’ll probably need to use 2 to 4 buckets of water each time you water it.
• Refer to the “Years 1-3 Tree Care Plan” for how often to water your tree.

Bucket Tips

• Works well when paired with Mulch.
• Don’t use it in winter – freezing water can crack the bucket.
• Use a lid to keep out leaves and junk.
• Recommended for back or fenced yards.

For a full breakdown, check out our Tree Irrigation Bucket Instruction sheet

Hose Timers

A hose timer is a small device that connects to your outdoor faucet (where you hook up your garden hose). It turns the water on and off by itself—like a smart helper for watering your plants or lawn.

What is it?

• A hose timer is like an alarm clock for your water hose.
• It tells the hose when to start and stop watering.

Why use one?

• Saves water – It shuts off by itself, so you don’t forget and leave it running.
• Helps your tree and garden – Your tree and plants get the right amount of water, even if you’re busy or away.
• Saves time – You don’t have to stand there and turn the water on and off.

There are lots of battery operated timers such as the one shown below that you connect to a hose from your home to your new tree. We don’t recommend specific brands but you can see a review of some common ones here. A simple dial lets you set the hose to automatically water your tree on a schedule, such a 1x a week for 60 minutes (at low flow for slow absorption)