Root water/feeder

6 years ago

I have seen root feeders like Ross root feeder and would like to know if they are necessary or needed to water tree's. Does watering from the top work as well?

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Embothrium

6 years ago

Root feeder leaves a little pocket of water where inserted - water does not shoot horizontally through the soil, as though it were air. There is fairly significant horizontal movement of water through particular soils under the right circumstances - this is not a general phenomenon. And occurs when an adequate volume of water is present. A comparatively brief running of a root feeder during each insertion is not going to inject enough water to do the job.

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Comments (6)

Embothrium
6 years ago
The water just stays near where the needle was inserted, making these ineffective. Apply water and fertilizer to the (preferably mulched) soil surface instead. Use granular fertilizer products only.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
6 years ago
I disagree with that observation, Embo. Water moves horizontally and vertically in most types of soil. I like the injection tools to apply water only through three inches of mulch in order to get needed moisture directly to the feeder root system a couple of inches below the surface of the actual soil.

Seth, watering from the top is very effective as long as you do it long enough. It takes some volume to get through mulch, lawn, or even plain soil in order to do some good. It's my preferred method of applying extra water when needed.

I apply a soluble fertilizer product through my hose if needed.
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Babka NorCal 9b
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I used to water/fert with my Ross root feeder plunging it way down all the way. 2-3feet???? Ha ha deep watering) Then after the Bay Area had some strong winds and I saw some established trees uprooted, I realized that the top 18" is where everything happens. Do what it takes to get water and fert there, be it slow watering, injection or rain and granules. The only way to know if the water is going where you think it is, is to stick a shovel in the dirt and see.

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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
6 years ago
Yep.....watering that deep is useless. I actually concentrate on the top foot or so.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
the discussion needs to start by defining you soil type ... and how water moves thru it ... its called a perk test ...

and once you understand that ... then you might be able to figure out.. how water would move thru your soil ... if you started at some depth ...

see pic below.. silver maple roots .. ALL in the top foot or so .. in sand ...

it is my position that plants are not children.. and do NOT need to be fed .. EVER .. unless a soil test indicates something is missing from the soil ... but then that would be called a soil amendment ... i urge peeps to look around the area.. and see all the trees that thrive .. without any intervention by fertilizer companies ... btw .. if you fert your lawn ... the trees will get anything they need ... when the tree roots get out under the lawn .. and they will

bottom line.. spend the money on water ... put it on a trickle for a few hours.. WHEN the trees need it ... and then let the soil near dry before you do it again.. in a month or two ...

ken