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Irrigation duration recommendations
| DETERMINING
HOW MANY MONTHS IRRIGATION SHOULD BE PROVIDED BASED ON CLIMATE AND TREE SIZE AT PLANTING |
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| USDA hardiness zone | ||||||
| Maximum trunk diameter at planting (in inches) | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 1 | To
ensure establishment, tree should be irrigated: 12 months |
10 months | 7 months | 5 months | 3 months | 3 months |
| 2 | 24 months | 20 months | 15 months | 10 months | 6 months | 6 months |
| 3 | 36 months | 30 months | 23 months | 16 months | 9 months | 9 months |
| 4 | 48 months | 39 months | 30 months | 21 months | 12 months | 12 months |
Maximum recommended tree size at planting depends on climate and how long trees can
be irrigated after planting. For example, if irrigation can be provided for
six months after planting in USDA hardiness zone 9, maximum trunk diameter at
planting is two inches. With six months' irrigation, maximum trunk diameter
for planting in zone 5 would be about one-half inch. Irrigation should be provided
during dry weather in the growing season for 24 months after planting a two-inch
tree in USDA hardiness zone 5.
