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How much water for Arbor Vitae?

16 years ago

I had ten 6 to 7 foot Arbor Vitaes Planted in my yard this spring. The landscapers that planted them said to water them twice a week. So I did plus we have had alot of rain recently. I started seeing brown branches at the base of the trees plus brown branches going up the trees before all the rain came. I was thinking maybe I'm over watering them. How much water do these trees need?

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Comments (6)

Embothrium
16 years ago
Enough to keep the soil moist. How much and how often will vary with soil, site and weather conditions.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
it doesnt matter how often you water.. it only matters how well you water them ...

mulch them well ... are they mulched?

insert finger to second knuckle.. and water them when it is dry or hot down there ...

slow trickle ...

water has to get to the roots... for it to be any good for the plant... if your watering is not getting down there... they will die ...

how long it takes to get the roots damp .. is a function of your soil.. which only you can define and work with .... ergo.. insert finger ... check every plant ...

once dampened to the proper level .... do not water again until hot or dry at second knuckle ...

well mulched damp soil is never hot.. if the second says hot... its close to drying out ...

dont be afraid to take a hand shovel and dig a 6 or 8 inch hole.. to see just how much water is down at the root ball ...

ken
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I'd be highly skeptical that this a disease or pest issue......arborvitaes are just not overly susceptible to either. Unless one considered root rots a disease. But based on the conditions described - located in a hot, dry climate, been in a container for several seasons and watered more or less according to a schedule - it would be difficult to consider the possibility of a root rot over lack of water. This serves as a bit of an illustration of the challenges of container gardening. Any permanent or semi-permanent plantings of woody plants in a container will need pretty consistent attention with up-potting or root pruning and repotting with fresh media. If plants remain in place too long without, the roots will expand to fill the container and the soil mix will break down, disappear or become displaced by roots, leaving nothing to retain any water. When you do water, it will run right through the container without the roots realizing any benefit. Even watering on a daily basis may not overcome this. So yes, looking at the roots may make sense but not to evaluate if they are rotting.....I really doubt they are. You are more likely to find a very dense and congested mass of roots with very little potting soil being apparent. btw, it only takes a day or two of very dry conditions for a potted conifer to dry out to the point where it is no longer viable. Been there, done that!
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bugs have a way of finding stressed plants ... when was this planted? .. was it choice stock to start with???? perhaps it has/had other issues ... any chance a dog was involved.. that low dead spot looks like such ... also the skirt of dead needles might indicate improper planting or improper watering after transplant ... i see the lawn chair ... im not sure i would want a multi year rejuvenation project.. where i had to look at it every day ... sometimes its better to cut bait.. and start over ... perhaps with something better ... as noted above ... ken
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arbs are trees.. and they are conifers ... and imo.. treated as such ... i would doubt it will ever have any need for fert .. ever .... what babs said about winter.. but since it was transplanted just last year ..... it could also be wholesaler.. retailer damage in shipping from the grower ... moving to your house.. or planting damage ... but it was minor enough that it really didnt show.. until the drying winds of winter desiccated the minor damage .. its hard to tell when something happens to an evergreen ... because they can stay green a long time ... you are responsible for water this year.. and especially if there is some drought in summer ... and then after that.. it should be free range ... with only the snow/ice issue in the future ... frankly.. it doesnt look that bad.. and once you remove the brown.. you and it will forget about it ... ken read up on proper watering https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub
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grb1
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the replies,
Now I don't think I was watering enough. All trees have mulch. Seven have wood chip mulch and three have mulching fabric covered with red granite. I'll keep watering every day for a while and keep checking the soil.

Will the brown branches come back or should I cut them off with a pruner?

Thanks again for your replies.
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jean001
16 years ago
At this point, the water must go into the original rootball. Most likely that area is dry.

Sprinklers won't work because the foliage will deflect the water outside the rootball.

A soaker hose, placed or the original rootbal might help.

And no, the brown branches won't come back.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
take a close look at the ones with fabric and rock ... if they are doing the worst .... remove such ...

both will increase retained heat ... perhaps when they are better established.. you can put it back ...

NO .. never put the fabric back ... it serves no purpose.. the minute it is put down.. weed seeds blow on top .. and any alleged function there might have been is defeated .... and it may interfere with water movement to the roots ...

dont worry about the brown... when you are sure they are dead... prune them off as far back as possible... leave any branch or part that is green .... these plants .. as i understand.. and they do NOT grow up in my garden ... are very vigorous plants ... give them a year or two to get moving.. and they will surely fill in .. and the spots you pruned out will disappear ....

good luck
ken
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grb1
Original Author
16 years ago
ken,

I think I'll heed your advice. I'm going to take the mulch fabric out. It doesn't do any good any way because weeds are still grow there.

When I went out to cut the brown branches back I noticed 90% of them were broken. I wonder if birds did that? They were very thin branches.

Thanks for all the advice,

grb1
0

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