Q. My young acacia tree has abundant growth but only on
the top half of the branches. Each of these branches are losing many leaves
half way up the branch. There is a lot of growth at the top of the tree but not
much below. Am I watering too much, too little? I water every five days during
the summer.
the top half of the branches. Each of these branches are losing many leaves
half way up the branch. There is a lot of growth at the top of the tree but not
much below. Am I watering too much, too little? I water every five days during
the summer.
A. Acacia trees are desert plants. Most desert plants are
opportunists when it comes to using water. In other words, when water is
present they grow like crazy. When water is absent, their growth slows and they
then try to use as little water as possible. Desert plants may even stop their
growth and drop their leaves when water is not available!
opportunists when it comes to using water. In other words, when water is
present they grow like crazy. When water is absent, their growth slows and they
then try to use as little water as possible. Desert plants may even stop their
growth and drop their leaves when water is not available!
 |
| This is not Acacia but Palo Verde. Boring insects, or borers, may feed on a variety of trees and shrubs or very specific ones. Borers, like the flat headed apple tree borer, has a variety of trees they attack including the desert trees. Sometimes they attack trees with sun damage and other times they seem to attack trees without any cause at all. |
All
plants are tremendous competitors for water, nutrients and light. They want to
be “top dog” in their plant community by taking as much water, nutrients and
light as possible when it’s available. By doing this, they take away these
building blocks of growth from other plants.
plants are tremendous competitors for water, nutrients and light. They want to
be “top dog” in their plant community by taking as much water, nutrients and
light as possible when it’s available. By doing this, they take away these
building blocks of growth from other plants.
When
water is present, trees try to get as tall as possible as rapidly as they can before
they start to fill out. They grow upward first and then put energy into
horizontal growth once they’ve established some height. This growth in height takes
away light and shades competitors. This early growth in height, when there is a
plenty of water and nutrients, oftentimes is at the expense of putting on lower
growth .
water is present, trees try to get as tall as possible as rapidly as they can before
they start to fill out. They grow upward first and then put energy into
horizontal growth once they’ve established some height. This growth in height takes
away light and shades competitors. This early growth in height, when there is a
plenty of water and nutrients, oftentimes is at the expense of putting on lower
growth .
 |
| We commonly see borers attack fruit trees and many different landscape plants. This flat headed Appletree borer infested a young Apple tree recently after was planted. The tree was so young that extensive damage was done by a single borer found feeding in the tree. |
Watering
schedules take two different forms; how much
water is applied and how often water
is applied. It’s difficult to say with certainty without seeing the tree, but
it sounds like it is receiving water too often.
schedules take two different forms; how much
water is applied and how often water
is applied. It’s difficult to say with certainty without seeing the tree, but
it sounds like it is receiving water too often.
Watering
every five days means nothing to me. I can take a sip of water hourly and
someone might think I am drinking plenty of water. But another person might ask,
how big are your “sips”? One teaspoon or 1 pint?
every five days means nothing to me. I can take a sip of water hourly and
someone might think I am drinking plenty of water. But another person might ask,
how big are your “sips”? One teaspoon or 1 pint?
How much
water to apply? When watering trees, give them enough. Apply enough water to
wet the soil at least 24 inches deep. Apply this water to at least half the
area under the canopy of the tree. Once it enters the soil, the water spreads
horizontally further than this.
water to apply? When watering trees, give them enough. Apply enough water to
wet the soil at least 24 inches deep. Apply this water to at least half the
area under the canopy of the tree. Once it enters the soil, the water spreads
horizontally further than this.
 |
| Use 3 eighths inch rebar to estimate how deeply water has penetrated into the soil after an irrigation. Check the soil in 3 or 4 locations. |
Use 3/8-inch
diameter rebar that is three feet long. After irrigating, push this rebar in
the soil in three or four locations to check the watering depth. Wet soil
allows the rebar to slip in easily to the same depth as the wet soil. Dry soil makes
it hard to push further.
diameter rebar that is three feet long. After irrigating, push this rebar in
the soil in three or four locations to check the watering depth. Wet soil
allows the rebar to slip in easily to the same depth as the wet soil. Dry soil makes
it hard to push further.
It
should slip into the soil at least 24 inches deep. Once you know how many
minutes this takes, the amount of time you water won’t change. Each irrigation
will be 24 inches deep.
should slip into the soil at least 24 inches deep. Once you know how many
minutes this takes, the amount of time you water won’t change. Each irrigation
will be 24 inches deep.
If using
drip irrigation, space emitters about 2 feet apart. If using a basin or moat
under the tree, the basin should be as wide as half the area under the canopy. Trees
grow. This means the basin must expanded every three years. If using drip
emitters, add more emitters every three years.
drip irrigation, space emitters about 2 feet apart. If using a basin or moat
under the tree, the basin should be as wide as half the area under the canopy. Trees
grow. This means the basin must expanded every three years. If using drip
emitters, add more emitters every three years.
 |
| Basin under a tree used to capture the water for irrigation. If using a hose or some other delivery method that releases a large quantity of water rapidly, a basin is required to keep the water from going everywhere else but around the tree. |
How
often to apply water? Look at the tree canopy. It will tell you. When the
canopy of the tree starts to thin out, it’s time to irrigate! Desert trees tell
you when to water when their canopies begin to thin out.
often to apply water? Look at the tree canopy. It will tell you. When the
canopy of the tree starts to thin out, it’s time to irrigate! Desert trees tell
you when to water when their canopies begin to thin out.