agray132 is very astute. Were we worried we could, as suggested, forget it. My question is a budgeting question. How much does it cost? I agree with agray132. Its not cheap to have a nice yard in the high desert. Maybe rockscaping would be a better choice ... were we trying to save money. This post was edited by albert_135 on Tue, Oct 1, 13 at 10:39

Definitely take Loves Trees' advice. Planting a tree this late in the year is pretty tough, and that's even mostly true for a native tree (which I'm pretty sure none of the Diospyros are). One additional thing I might change with the current setup is move the shade so it's shading the lower part and the ground of the tree rather than the upper. I think the goal with shade is the reduce the heat around the tree, not so much block light from the leaves, and I find the sun on the ground to be a huge heat source in the summer. This is something I'm trying for the first time this year on some of my new trees, but I've done similar things that have worked well: This was taken earlier in the year and now some of the leaves get sunlight for most of the time the shade is hitting the area, but the ground is shaded enough that it stays relatively cool. It provided more than 6 hours of sunlight to the area even when it completely shaded the tree. Just in case someone wants to make one, it's pretty easy. I just got 2 10' 1/2 pvc pipes for each side (4 total), glued them together with 1/2" pipe couplers, then stuck them in the ground with 1/2" rebar (all from home depot). I used pvc clamps to attach the shade cloth to the pvc. I used a cheap clothesline attached to 2 stakes and tied it across both pipes to stabilize it in the wind.

I don't know growing in sand. But I've been giving my bareroot whips a half gallon every other day and that's in clay. So, in sand, I might water more often and I'm guessing with more water. While my clay retains some water in's running right thru your sand. But how do your trees look? Repeat first sentence!

how big are these trees?? it is said the root mass.. in the shape of a flat pancake can be twice as big as the tree you see above the ground ... the feeder roots may not even be in your yard ... which is how big??? .. break down 1800 sq feet ... its too early for me to figure that out ... im presuming.. you did not shave off the lawn.. just killed it and then mulched?? well established trees should not need any water ... so your lawn watering was just a bonus.. of course.. there might be.. in tree time.. some years of adjusting to the new circ's .... but im not sure there is anything you need to worry about .. maybe in severe drought.. give them a decent drink ... cant hurt .. but do keep in mind.. you did mulch ... and that should help retain moisture in the soil ... what did you mulch with ... and i presume no landscape fabric was used?? ken