When to stop watering my tree

[thatladyfromacrosstheroad]

I planted a new tree in Mid August and have been watering it everyday, unless there is considerable rain. When do I stop ? It's about 2.5 m tall and is a sorbus. Is there a golden rule about watering. I've notice Steph temperature really dipping at night, but it's been so warm in the day.

[thatladyfromacrosstheroad]

Steph = the (obviously )

[MereDintofPandiculation]

Once it's dropped its leaves there's no point watering if the soil is moist, because it won't be transpiring much. I would have thought you could stop now, and water only if there hasn't been rain for a few days and the soil is drying. Next season, water in dry periods. If the soil is dry, I go at the rate of 2 gallons per sq yd, which if I remember correctly I worked out as being roughly equivalent to half an inch of rain... yeah, near enough. 12.7litres per sq m.

I've never managed to be as conscientious as you, and haven't had a problem. There again, I'm gardening in the shade on heavy clay - if your garden is sunny with well-draining soil you will need to water a lot more than me.

[MereDintofPandiculation]

Don't water as the weather gets cooler if the soil is still moist - wet soil is as bad for plants as dry soil.

[TheAlternativeTentacle]

I water mine in, and the again once or twice if it is very warm; but after that I don't water at all.

Indeed though I'd never put a tree in during august, I'd wait until November.

If you keep watering it, it won't put out roots to go find its own water.

[Sneezewitch]

Ah. General rule with bigger plants (shrubs/trees) is a good soak once a week, as daily watering can promote surface root when what you want to encourage are deep roots. Fortunately this summer hasn’t been too dry so I don’t think you’ll see ill effects. But you can stop now and next year it should be fine without watering-if we do get a long dry spell you could give it a real soak but not regular, small amounts.

[thatladyfromacrosstheroad]

Interesting about watering too much not being good . It's in a very sunny spot, south facing and gets sun all day. It's surrounded by an area of grass then paving all sides. The last tree which was planted I think maybe just a month before we got this house, died after about a year. I must admit I didn't water that one at all. I didn't think of it.

We've replaced the dead tree with a different type of tree because it was horrible looking at a dead one. We dug in some compost, but the ground was generally ok. Removed a few big rubble bits.

Looks like from the weather at the moment I won't need to be watering !