Road Trip Watering

I have to leave for 4 days next weekend. Hopefully this heatwave will end.

Up until now I have been worried about scorching, but so far all the trees appear to be handling the heat and sun OK. I figure I'll have a neighbor come over morning and evening to water.

Any other suggestions? (I don't normally just take off.)

Thanks,
Jay

Many of us have found that neighbors aren't that reliable, so take that into consideration.

I have the impression that you have quite a few trees. I might suggest you go to Lowes or Home Depot and invest $30-$40 in a timer and batteries, attach a hose and a lawn sprinkler set so that all your trees will be covered and set it to water however often you want.

I travel a lot, and have had friends take care of my trees. The trick I found is (1) put the trees in a shady spot while you're gone (that way they can handle a few days without water should something happen); (2) As long as you have "modern" substrate, remind them several times "you cannot overwater, just water water water, whatever the tree doesn't want will flow out right away", (3) call and "check up" (aka remind them!) every so often, and (4) pay/compensate them nicely (if possible). Unfortunately, I find myself gone for 1-2 month stints, so accepting that you might lose a tree is inevitable--lost my favorite JWP just last month . Such is life.

As for timers, they are nice but make sure you have someone at least walk around to see that your timers are working. There are stories out there of people whose timer malfunctioned and lose their entire collection.

Even if the timers and sprinklers work "right", there are other factors that can interfere. Wind, in particular, can change the sprinkler pattern and result in trees getting underwatered. Probably best to set the timers/sprinklers and have someone come check/water everyday if possible. This way trees get at least some water even if the neighbor misses some during his rounds. I'd also move the trees to a shadier location if possible.

Chris

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check on a timer and sprinkler this weekend.

Regarding sprinklers, one concern I have is that the sun on the hose can get the water pretty hot, even covering the hose can still warm it up. Should I install some type of purge system to flush out the hose and cool the water for the trees? I'm not sure at what temp the would have to be to be too hot for watering from above.

Jay

The best solution is to belong to a club, & make reciprocal arrangements to have a knowledgeable person do the watering. If not a bonsai grower, at least a houseplant grower or a gardener.
Iris

I bought a timer, hooked it up to a sprinkler, piled all my trees in a circle covered by the sprinkler area, set it to water twice a day for a half hour, called the neighbors kid and told him I'd pay him to check to make sure the trees were good and wet.

Was gone for 14 days, no problems. Paid $60 to the neighbor kid.

Be sure to test your set up before leaving to make sure they are getting soaked.

I wouldn't worry about water temperature. Even at our current outdoor temperatures (it was 103F on my porch yesterday) , by the time the spray has flown through the air it will be OK. But mulch or old towels over the hose would be OK, too.

I would try the club, Iris, but my nearest club member is 30 miles away.

Thanks, all. Hopefully the sprinkler will be up by tomorrow. I have one neighbor who has volunteered and refused payment. Training begins tomorrow.

does it hurt to cover the soil in the pots with berlap or shade cloth to reduce evaporation?