Knowledgebase
Watering for a young Chinkapin Oak in clay soil #754370
Asked June 06, 2021, 7:43 PM EDT
I planted a 4' tall Chinkapin Oak in clay soil, in March 2021, and it has leafed-out, but it's unclear if it needs water.
The leaves are limp (please see pics), but I'm reluctant to water it because the limp leaves are both an indicator of too much and too little watering.
How do I determine if the tree should be watered?
I dug down 6-8 inches, retrieved a handful of soil/clay, and the soil/clay stays in a compact ball. Does that mean that the tree has enough moisture? Or, should I water the tree anyway?
Regards,
Craig
BTW: here's the Chinkapin Oak that was in the same spot last year...https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=639548
Boulder County Colorado
Expert Response
Referred to Tree Team
Hi Craig,
You are working very hard to get trees in that median. I am impressed with how you have followed all the advice from last year.
Are the leaves wilted all the time or in the hottest part of the day? It is possible that the tree started growing well with our March and April rains and has been shocked by the recent very hot weather. It is probably best to follow a reasonable watering schedule of 5 gallons every 3 - 5 days depending on weather. Your test of checking a clump of soil is very good.
I also would remove what looks to be a white tree wrap? Wraps usually come off near the first part of April.
I have added several fact sheets and videos which may help you feel comfortable with how well you are doing with this tree and how county extension agents think it is a good choice. Tolerates alkaline and clay soil, is relatively drought resistant, makes wonderful shade, and fits well in the Colorado landscape.
Hi, thanks for your response. Most of the leaves are wilted all the time and didn't dry out (they did appear better in April). However, some of the small leaves wilted, dried-out AND detached/dropped after getting black spots (please see today's pics). It's almost as if the larger leaves have water, but a very constricted supply that's just barely keeping the tree alive (perhaps due to clay clumped around roots?).
So, is your guidance that I should water the tree 3-5 gallons, once a week, regardless of whether the clay soil clumps together when I retrieve a sample at 6-8 inch depth ?
Craig
As recommended in this document: https://www.summitcountyco.gov/DocumentCenter/View/315/Care-of-Newly-Planted-Trees?bidId, newly planted trees on average need 4 to 10 gallons total PER WEEK per inch of trunk diameter. For example a two-inch diameter tree may need 5 gallons, twice a week. In compacted clayey soil with poor drainage, it’s common for the planting pit to become a bowl holding excess water. Check the soil moisture often. The document listed above also contains information on how to test for soil moisture using a houseplant water meter.
You can use a screwdriver test to determine moisture. If the screwdriver goes into the soil 6 to 8 inches with little resistance then it definitely does not need more watering. This document details the use of a screwdriver to test for water moisture: http://counties.agrilife.org/montgomery/files/2011/05/Tree-Watering-Tips-2.pdf
Note: You should remove the tree wrap and any ties for the season. The tree wrap can cause bark to remain moist even if the weather is dry. Tree tissue may be damaged when too much water is held against the trunk causing further stress to your young tree. You can reapply the wrap next winter.
