Properly caring for trees: the interplay of water and nutrients

Trees need water, nutrients, and healthy soil. Crucially, it's not just each individual factor that matters, but also their interaction. Because, in reality, an entire system exists within the root zone of trees.

In practice, however, these areas are often considered separately: watering occurs when the soil is dry, or fertilizing when the tree appears weak. But this isolated approach falls short:

• When soil is compacted, it can hardly absorb water, so a large part of the irrigation water runs off the surface.
• If the soil contains little humus, it cannot retain water well, causing the tree to experience drought stress more quickly.
• If a tree receives enough water, but the soil is nutrient-poor, its growth will still remain weak.
• If the soil is severely dried out, nutrients can hardly be absorbed, even if fertilizer is applied.
• When soil life is disturbed, organic nutrients become less available and do not reach the roots efficiently.

Let's take a closer look.

The soil as a central system

Here's another brief look at the soil. It's not just the location of the roots, but a complex system that stores, distributes, and makes water and nutrients available.

• Loose, humus-rich soil can absorb water and retain it for extended periods. At the same time, active soil life ensures that nutrients are released and made available to the tree. Microorganisms, fungi, and other soil organisms perform vital functions that are crucial for the tree's growth and health.
• However, if the soil is compacted, depleted, or biologically inactive, this interplay is limited. Water penetrates less effectively, nutrients remain bound, and the tree is not adequately supplied.
• Water serves not only as a source of nutrients but also as a transport medium. It carries dissolved nutrients to the roots and distributes them throughout the soil. At the same time, the way this water is stored and kept available depends on the soil structure.
• Only when water, nutrients, and soil quality work together does a functioning system emerge. In such a system, the tree can be better supplied even during dry periods and remains stable and resilient in the long term.

Water, nutrients and soil care conceived as a system

To effectively support this interplay, the right measures in everyday life are crucial:

• Watering techniques that are appropriate for trees: Water less frequently, but with more water. Release the water slowly so that it can seep into the deeper layers of soil where the tree has its roots.
• Mulching tree discs: This protects the soil from drying out. At the same time, it promotes soil life.
• Enrich soil life with organic fertilizer: Worm compost or mature compost are well suited for this purpose.
• Storing Terra Preta: Terra Preta increases the storage capacity for water and nutrients in the soil.

Proper tree care: Combining watering and fertilization

If you're looking for a simple solution, you can use liquid fertilizer based on... Worm compost Combine with drip irrigation using tree watering bags.

Worm compost contains a multitude of microorganisms that activate soil life and support natural soil processes. This not only adds nutrients but also makes them more readily available. At the same time, the soil structure improves: the soil becomes looser, absorbs water better, and retains it for longer periods.

Especially in times of heat and drought, this is a crucial advantage: Soil that can store water continuously supplies the tree even between waterings and significantly reduces stress phases.

For fertilizer to be effective, water and nutrients must reach the root area together.

If water is applied too quickly or in too small a quantity, it often doesn't reach the roots. Instead, it runs off the surface or evaporates. The nutrients remain on the surface and cannot be used by the tree.

Slow and even watering is therefore key. It ensures that the water penetrates deep into the soil and carries the nutrients with it – exactly where they are needed.

Systems such as drip irrigation or Irrigation bags They support this process by continuously releasing water over several hours. This gives the soil enough time to absorb the water and store it in the root zone.

The interplay in practice

Only when water, nutrients and soil interact do they reach their full potential.

For example, if a tree is watered during a dry period and simultaneously supplied with an organic liquid fertilizer, the nutrients can penetrate directly into the soil and be absorbed by the roots. If the soil structure is also improved, the water remains available for longer and needs to be replenished less frequently.

This creates a cycle: water transports the nutrients, the soil stores both, and the tree is supplied evenly.