Noticed a big change in a client's red oak after switching from deep root watering to surface mulch

Client in Springfield had us do deep root watering on a big red oak every month for two years. The tree looked okay but growth was slow. This spring, we stopped the watering and put down a 3-inch ring of wood chip mulch instead. In just four months, the canopy filled out by about 20% and the leaf color is way better. I think we were drowning the roots and the mulch kept the right moisture level. Anyone else see this kind of turn around after changing their water plan?

2 comments

2 Comments

miller.paul3d ago

Wow, so we've been paying to water trees like they're houseplants. Classic. Guess sometimes the best help is just leaving stuff alone.

the_diana4d ago

Yeah, I read something similar in a gardening group last month. A guy in a dry area was watering his maple tree too much and the leaves kept turning yellow early. He stopped the deep watering, added compost under some mulch, and said it looked like a different tree by fall. Makes you wonder how many trees we're actually helping versus just following an old routine. What kind of wood chips did you use?