But I do see the good side of water now. How good it is when you’re really thirsty, how it glitters and gurgles! How alive it is! ~G.K. Chesterton, English author and philosopher
Have you ever seen one of these things? Do you know what it does? Am I just being late to the party once again?
While walking the Monk one day, I ran into one of my neighbors, and we were commiserating over the hot, dry summer we’d had … and yes, I was complaining about having to stand over my newest tree and water it to keep it alive.
Turns out, she’s a Master Gardener and quickly pointed out there was a better way.
A way that was better for the tree … and for me.
It’s called a Tree Irrigation Watering Bag, and she assured me I could order it online through Amazon or one of the home improvement stores.
Which I did.
And she’s spot-on!
Also called a Sapling Soaker, this bag is made of heavy-duty PVC and when filled with water, holds approximately 15 gallons.
Slow release emitters let the water drip out over a 5-9 hour period, soaking down to the tree’s roots.
You simply zip the bag around the tree’s trunk, insert a water hose into a special slot, let the bag fill, and remove the hose until the next time you need to water.
Easy-peasy, right?
And since newly-planted or transplanted trees need way more water than we realize, this system is ideal. Set it and forget it.
My neighbor has a couple of these bags around some of her “baby” trees, and I’ve got to say, they sure look healthy. My new oak, on the other hand, is still struggling to overcome damage done by Japanese beetles munching on its leaves early in the season.
But at least it’s getting fresh water … and I’ll tend to those beetles next Spring!
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
You know Debbie, I’ve seen those green plastic bags around trees before, but never knew what they were or what their purpose was. How GENIUS!
Once again, I learned something from you! Hope all goes well with your new oak!
Have a super Sunday, my friend! X
Ron, none of us ever gets too old to learn something, ha! I’d seen these bags around my neighbor’s trees, too, but I just figured they were some sort of device designed to keep the squirrels off. Who knew??
My mom never wanted an oak in the yard. She said it was “messy” because it produced acorns. This one isn’t supposed to start producing for decades, so I like to think she might approve. It’s supposed to turn a pretty color in the fall, and I know she’d have liked that!
Happy Sunday to you! xx
Wowsah, what a great idea! Very handy having a master gardener in your neighborhood.
Indeed, Laurie. She’s a relatively new neighbor, and Monk and I admire her yard every time we go past. She’s got so many beautiful flowers, her trees look healthy, and the lawn is manicured. You can tell they appreciate their property.
I’ve never seen one of these, but when I saw just the photo without reading about it, I suspected it might be some sort of trickle-waterer. That’s really a neat idea for younger trees. I had to laugh: around here, watering the foundations of houses sometimes happens in times of drought because of our clay soils. I guess there’s no way to bag a house, but it’s fun to imagine!
I’ve heard of watering a house’s foundation, but I never knew what is was done for. Thanks for telling me, Linda!
I’ve heard that low and slow is the way to go for watering new trees. It’s because the root system needs to dive deep so the tree will have a good foundation. During heat waves and cold, dry-ish winters, proper water is hard to come by, and poor trees need all the help they can get.
We have used these when planting trees. You still need to fill them frequently if this hot dry weather continues. But the tree does get much more water this way.
Outstanding! — a testimonial from someone who’s used this type of watering system! Thank you, Dawn.
I also noticed that somebody did some landscaping around one of our schools in town, and they put one of these bags around the truck of each of those trees. Must’ve cost a small fortune. It’s a pity they’re not staying up on the re-filling of the bags, though. It’s been pretty hot and dry here, and those trees are going to suffer.
They only work if they get filled with water every couple of days
I’ve figured that out! And it’s up to me to do the filling — Monk says that’s not his job!
I’ve never seen anything like that!
We haven’t planted any trees recently other than the 300 I helped put out with the aid of a dibble bar several years ago! We put them in the ground and they were pretty much on their own from there.
You helped plant 300 trees, Kelly??? Mercy, my back hurts, just from reading that, ha! Planting trees can be hard work. I had Domer help me with this one, chosen in part because it’s supposed to be a fast-grower. We will see. I’d really like a nice shade tree in the yard!
These were trees (basically sticks) bought in bulk from the Forestry Service. I personally planted about 100 saw-tooth oaks. It was hot, tiring work!
I hope yours grows quickly and provides you with many pleasurable days sitting in its shade reading!
What a lovely thought!! By the time it grows that tall, it might start producing acorns for the squirrels, too.
A great idea for new trees. Thanks for sharing.
You’re most welcome, John. Thus far, it seems to be working, and the tree looks pretty good (except for the leaves the Beetles chomped on).
Those beetles are nasty
Never seen one before, but then, given that we rarely go a day without rain even in the summer, baby trees probably get enough water without them. I hope your oak appreciates it and thrives!
I don’t imagine they’d be a popular item in your part of the world, FF, especially since you get so much natural rain (which is probably better for the trees than city water, ha!)
Yes, they’ve been around for a few years and they are very helpful for tree saplings!
Thanks for confirming that, Eliza! I realize something like this only works if somebody actually puts the water into the slot and fills the bag, but that’s easier than having to stand outdoors and bake in the sun while trying to estimate just how much water the tree needs!
I’ve never seen or heard of a Tree Irrigation Watering Bag — what a great idea! I hope your new oak thrives now that it has a better way of getting watered. Some day she will be a mighty oak tree!
Becoming a mighty oak tree is the plan, Barbara. Now, if everything goes according to plan, my tree will grow (and I’ll remember next spring to keep those nasty Japanese beetles off it before they do more damage). I’m interested to see if it turns color in the Fall.
Who Knew?…….Now I know….Thanks!
I didn’t know either, Tanya! It’s a nifty idea — so far, it seems to be working, too.
What a great idea! I had no idea there was such a thing, but I’m sure going to look into it now!
I’m glad to have been of help, Ann. It saddens me to spend huge amounts of time watering a new tree, only to find out that I wasn’t doing it right … or long enough. Then the poor tree suffers. “Set it and forget it” seems a more reasonable solution.