Question
we live in edgewood texas. soil is sandy. we bought a bald cyprus tree from a tree farm. we are unsure how much to water it. the tips of the tree are turning brown. we are watering it everyday. how will we know if we are watering it enough.n6j18

Answer
Soil moisture is especially important during the first three years following transplanting. Studies have shown that the carbohydrate levels critical for root generation are not lowered if transplanted trees are adequately watered. One inch of water each week for the first season is a good rule of thumb, but monitoring soil moisture and applying water as needed is preferable. During dry spells water every third day. To gauge the amount of water you can place a pan under the tree and start the sprinkler--when the pan has 1 inch of water in it you can stop. Sprinkle slow so the soil can absorb the water instead of it running off. Remember, over-watering can reduce soil air space, lowering oxygen availability, and that can be just as stressful as drought.

Mulching a large area around newly planted trees with 3 to 4 inches of wood chips or bark also conserves soil moisture and moderates soil temperatures. Mulch also inhibits the growth of grass. Grass roots can present serious competition to the fine absorbing root system of trees, since they all grow in the top four to six inches of soil.