How Much Water, & How Often?

Use the tables below as a baseline to start from, but remember that watering needs vary from place to place. To keep your new tree alive, you’ll need to monitor soil moisture closely for the first year or two, making adjustments as you go.

Soil Type and Rate of Drainage can be determined by a soil test from USU, or by digging a hole 1 foot deep and one foot wide, filling it with water, and timing how long the water takes to drain out. If drainage takes 2 hours or more, refer to the Soil Drains Slowly column. If it drains in ½ - 2 hours, refer to the Soil Drains Well column. If it drains in less than 20 minutes, refer to the Soil Drains Fast column.