Watering trees in autumn

Table of Contents
Watering trees in autumn: closing the year and preparing for winter
Autumn: The season for planting new trees
How do I water trees correctly in autumn?
Except for frost
The right amount of water
Which casting method is best?
Watch for signs of drought stress
Avoid fertilizer and instead mulch
Different every year

For a tree, water is one of the most valuable things we can give. With enough water, trees can handle almost anything: they can photosynthesize, thrive, defend themselves against diseases and pests, and repair themselves. If there is one thing we should do really well with trees that have already been planted, it is watering. There are different challenges for every season. Here you will find the most important knowledge about treesßen in autumn.

Trees in autumn: closing the year and preparing for winter

The growing year is coming to an end. Fruits and nuts are harvested in autumn. And at the same time it is now getting colder. The deciduous trees lose their leaves and prepare for winter dormancy. But here too it is still necessary that they have enough water. For example, trees produce secondary plant substances in autumn to defend against pathogens and pests.

Tip for autumn: At the end of the growing season, you can water your trees thoroughly again in late autumn, when the deciduous trees have shed their leavesKISSING. This should be done before the ground freezes.

How do I water trees correctly in autumn?

From September onwards, a tree will mainly need additional water if it has been very dry in the previous months. Especially if you want to harvest fruit and nuts from your tree, it may be worthwhile to occasionally support the tree with water until this point.
If you are unsure whether your tree has enough water, you can also check the moisture in the soil. To do this, you can dig a small hole of 10 to 15 centimeters in the root area of ​​the tree. If the soil there is dry, the tree should be watered. Note that overwatering can also occur, especially in the fall. If the tree has too much water, it reacts in a similar way to drought stress.

All young trees that were planted in the last 5 years usually require additional watering, including in autumn, during dry periods. Their root system is not yet developed enough to reach the deeper layers. Young and newly planted trees are therefore much more susceptible to drought damage. Make sure they get enough water even in the fall. If it is dry for a long time, you can give 1 to 2 liters of water once or twice a week. 

Except for frost

If there is already snow or frost in autumn, wait until the snow has melted or the temperatures have risen above 5 degrees before watering.

Which casting method is best?

As with all seasons, there are two important rules Watering trees:

1. Better less ofteneat, but with a lot of water. A water quantity of 150 - 200 liters per watering cycle is recommended.
2. The water should seep into the earth as slowly as possible so that it can actually be absorbed by the soil. 

A very effective tool that takes both important points into account are tree watering bags, which slowly release water using drip irrigation. They can be installed without much effort and can be filled with a garden hose in just a few minutes. They then release the water drop by drop into the ground over a period of six to nine hours. This means there is no runoff or rapid seepage through the root zone and the root system has enough time to absorb all the water efficiently.

If you use tree watering bags, it is important not to leave them on the tree for long periods of time in the fall. Because of the dew and moisture, algae can build up.
If it falls below 5 degrees Celsius at night, you should remove the bags overnight.

Watch for signs of drought stress

Here you can find a text on the topic drought stress in trees. However, in autumn it is difficult to recognize drought stress in the tree. The trees are at the end of their growing season and most trees change color and then shed their leaves.

Avoid fertilizer and instead mulch

In the fall you should avoid fertilizer as it could stimulate growth. It is much more helpful to mulch the soil around the tree. Mulch can help retain moisture over the winter months and also protects against the cold.

Autumn: The season for planting new trees

Autumn is the best time of year for new plantings for most tree species. Do you still have room for a tree in your garden? 

Different every year

We are currently experiencing an increasing number of extreme weather events. Sometimes it rains a lot in autumn, sometimes it is hot and dry for a long time. It is therefore increasingly difficult to have blanket solutions.

Remember that too much water can also be problematic in the fall. Pay attention to your tree's specific needs and adjust your watering schedule accordingly. If in doubt, you should seek advice from local arborists or tree experts tailored to your region and your specific tree species.

And do trees need additional watering in winter?

You can find all the important information in the article Watering trees in winter

Here is a more detailed text on the subject Water trees.