Up to 70 percent of water use is in the landscape. Proper watering practices can save water and keep your water bill in check.
Newly planted desert-native or desert-adapted trees will require supplemental watering initially to help establish their roots. Park trees may receive additional water from flood irrigation or sprinklers due to the proximity to turfgrass.
Watering Guide for Homeowners and Estimated Cost to Establish Your Tree
Follow these easy steps to properly water your newly planted tree for healthy growth and to get the best start possible. About twice a week, but more frequently if it is very hot, give your tree 5-10 gallons of water each time you water. Make sure to saturate the root ball and some of the surrounding soil. This practice will encourage the roots to grow outward.
If there is concern about the added cost of planting trees, see some simple math below that shows how getting your new tree established will cost less than $4.00 annually.
- Mesa Water charges an average of $3.68 per 1,000 gallons = .0036 cents per gallon
- 520 gallons (5 gallons per watering) = $1.91 (cost of water for annual tree establishment)
- 1040 gallons (10 gallons per watering) = $3.82 (cost of water for annual tree establishment)
Once trees are established, remember to always water deep and infrequently! After establishment, many of our native or desert-adapted trees can survive on natural rainfall with just a few well-timed irrigations during long dry spells. Be sure to use our free watering guide resource at Water Use It Wisely to help create your tree watering schedule.
*Please note that this is a rough estimate. Estimate varies based on your tiered usage, annual precipitation, and site characteristics.