Planting during mini-drought

[Derek Reese 29]

I am fortunate enough to live close to both Blue Hill and Whitetail Crabs and usually try to get the WC trees in the ground in the late fall. The only hiccup to my plan this year is that it has been very dry here (see less than 2” of rain the last 2.5 months). I plan to plant the weekend before Thanksgiving with not a ton of rain in the forecast till then (I know it can change but this seems like a pattern the last couple years). Any issues (especially long term) that you all can think of with doing this and not just waiting till spring? Thanks!

 

[sandbur]

Plan on thoroughly soaking them at planting time. If the soil is on the light side, add moisture holding crystals to a larger than normal hole for planting.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

^ ^ ^ ^ This. The moisture crystals are a great thing to use - I've used them many times for other trees as well. As Bur said above give it a good soaking when you plant it.

One thing I've done with camp apple trees for slow dripping, after the initial watering, is take a 5-gallon bucket, drill (2) or (3) tiny 1/16" holes in the bottom. Place bucket at tree base, lay a brick or rock in it - not covering the holes - and fill it to the brim with water. It'll take a while - usually long enough that you'd only have to re-fill the bucket once a day. The brick or rock keeps the wind from blowing the bucket over or away when it's empty. Seems to work like a slow-soaker hose - but for areas out of faucet reach. These are near your house, right? The bucket trick should get you established until we get rain. I use Home Depot orange plastic buckets for this. Dry as tinder here in Eastern Pa. Hope this helps.

 

[bigboreblr]

PIck up some extra mulch. Slow water the spot with a hole in a 5 gallon bucket. You can even pre water the spot a few days before.

You can pre soak the roots for an hour or so.

Go back in a week and water again.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Where can I get those crystals? Like a hardware store or something? A lot of the local nurseries have closed down for the season…

 

[bigboreblr]

Where can I get those crystals? Like a hardware store or something? A lot of the local nurseries have closed down for the season…

vermiculite is an option too. Tried that stuff in hopes of making roots from crabapple cuttings. They survived until july. They do hold moisutre well and can be had at most any large place like home depot.

There is also stuff caled hydrogel. That stuff works awesome. MY local soil and water uses it on most of their bareroots. Pine, spruce, and dogwoods have been great. Although they're a little more pricey, they seem to fare better than ordering from the state nursery.

Up at camp, I bring a few gallons of my clay soil to elp absorb moisture and keep fertilizer ions around longer. CrazyED's sandy soil seems to love manure to absorb moisture too.

I also make a mud pie...... I flood the planting spots and make sure the planting is settled good by pushing / pumping the soil until it settles. The leftover clay in the mud up top seals up the pores a bit better.

Any trimming work should be sealed up.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Derek -

There are online sources to buy the crystals. I think one of the commercial names is "Water-sorb". Lowes or Home Depot may carry them - but it's late in the planting season, so they may have such things stored for winter.

 

[RGrizzzz]

Derek -

There are online sources to buy the crystals. I think one of the commercial names is "Water-sorb". Lowes or Home Depot may carry them - but it's late in the planting season, so they may have such things stored for winter.

Soil moist is another name brand.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Thanks guys! I talked to Terry and it’s so dry (he’s even drier than me) that he could only get me 1 tree out so I am just gonna hold off till spring and hope for a wet winter!

 

[bigboreblr]

I actualy skipped hunting farmland with the crossbow to water my trees. Gave every one including a few old matures ones a last call drink. I pulled a toringo crabapple out of the ground with the kubota. Was a bit tough to remove for it's size. Had the tiactor in 2wd and hte tire spun a bit. It just made a dust pile. 1/2 my trees still have green leaves. Some trees grew new leaves the past 3 weeks too.

Not sure what I am doing this weekend, it's opening rifle weekend. Might go to camp up north If I get another deer after work at home. Will dig up a dolgo on B118 and a trailman on anty to transplat up there If I do.

 

[BuckSnort]

I’m curious about your experiences with the moisture storing crystals. I used some when I planted a few weeks ago and some of the ground is almost “heaved”. I didn’t even use that much and It’s amazing how much it expanded. Not sure if I should be nervous. I am going to try and heel them in good again before I head home.

 

[bigboreblr]

Id probably not tamp it down.

If ground is frozen, then you may be breaking roots.

Likely frodt heave is from water and loose soil. You puy thrm in right, youll be ok as is.

Id anyrhing. Go back in the afternoon and give it a drink. When i plant i give it some water the last dsybum up there. A small 1/8 or 3/16th hole in a bucket is a goodcway to slow water.