I was searching for tree watering bags for some of my new trees. I ended up coming upon tree watering rings. Does anyone like those? In reality maybe a 5 gallon pail w/ a hole in it is best though

The bucket thing works but the hole needs to be very tiny. The cost of water bags gets too expensive for a large amount of new trees. I just get them watered once a week or so and use a patch of fabric to hold moisture in and weeds out. This has worked the best for me and is the most economical too.

As far as watering rings I can't help you.

I've used buckets before and found the biggest issue I have is debris or bugs plugging the hole. Doesn't take much to plug that small of a drain hole.

I use the gator bags for freshly planted trees. You can zip 2 or 3 together and they work great.

What is the purpose of the bags? Maybe I am niev but they grow naturally.

I've never heard of anybody using a patch of fabric. Interesting.

I've done the landscape fabric covered with mulch. Also have mulched them with wood chips/shavings.

I have one weakling Oak That I have babied with weekly watering and heavy mulching.
Didn't really make much difference in growth that I could see, it could of been putting its energy into roots tho.
That tree was the runt of the bunch, it had very minimal roots and was very short. I planted it in what I thought was the best spot, full sun all day long.
We'll see what this summer brings.
One of the best part of planting is watching your results and picking what you can learn from them.

Other than the mulch I put a 5' tree tube around them and thats it.
No weekly watering or any other care other than an annual inspection and work that maybe required to the tree tube.

Lose 6 $500/trees in a week and the bags do not look so expensive!

My trees from Chief River tonight came with some sort of moss in the bag so I put that around the trees instead of my usual bark mulch

I don't see a reason worth putting out the landscape fabric

Cheapest and I think the best method was shown to me by my grandpa. When you plant the tree put a 24 in or shorter depending on root ball size peice of 1 in plastics water line in the hole put it at an angle . After you finish covering roots up then cut pipe off so mower won’t hit it . He would water ever 3 days for about 6 months. Depending on rain and temperatures. NEVER lost a tree . Used a 5 gal bucket to water if no water hose was available

the reason I do landscape fabric on some trees is determined by where I plant them.
If planted in a open grass area it keeps the competition from grasses down.

Oh, ok. Anything to help is worth considering

As I understand it the fabric and Mulch /wood chips should be used for the first 5 years. 2 -3 feet around tree supposed to keep the weeds from competing with the tree for nutrients. Not sure read it on the interweb seems to work good for my fruit trees

Started planting new apples this week, Watered Monday planted Tuesday, will water with sprinklers 12hrs every 7 days. Averaging 1300 trees an hour. Did 8000 Tuesday only 54,000 left to go!

300 foot runs 24" +/- apart. no fabric no mulch, occasionally will wrap tyvek around the base 18" up. Or use trunk paint on the smaller trees

Holy, that's a lot of apple trees.

Trees look great!

Saw a show where water rings are being used in the cities for trees surrounded by sidewalks and pavement, but I've never seen them used in the burbs or country

They seem to be more for larger size trees

Also, I could see sticks poking a hole in them

I use mulch but I've never put that big of a ring around it, but maybe I should

One downfall of some tree watering bags is that some of them put the h20 right at the trunk and the h20 doesn't make it's way to the dripline.

Are those for resale? Looks great.

Local orchard. Eaters and cider apples.

If it keeps raining like it has been this spring I may not need any tree watering rings

WOW!!! Very interesting business, you are in. Thanks for sharing.

That is what I do and planted 15 today and used a 2'x2' fabric and mulch on top and I always do a basin/dish for water the hole and funnel straight down to the roots.

I have had good luck with the method also.

I've pondered the basin dish idea but haven't asked a forester if that's a preferred method

Update: Strange how things can change.. now we're in a mini drought.

Interesting

It's sure been dry lately and I've been watering. I often wonder how the DNR and County get their trees to grow so well. I suppose it's because they hire expert planters and buy their trees from the state nursery and get them early before most anyone else. I'm not even sure they use root gel.

Or it might be because they put them in the ground and don’t worry about it…they’re a plant for cry Pete…they want to live. Stop worrying about everything!

I kind of doubt that is why they achieve the success. Anything is possible I suppose.

1 thing they are good about is going back the next year & filling in to replace the dead ones.

They probably also have a good inkling what trees will do best in various soil types.

For private land owners, buying trees can be expensive. I don't blame people that do the best they can to increase success.

I suppose it's possible improper watering, for example, can do more harm than good