Why is moisture-recharging irrigation necessary in the garden in the fall: timing, at what temperature

Trees

After harvesting, trees begin preparing for winter dormancy. During this time, they require careful care. Watering trees to replenish moisture in the fall is an agronomic measure that must be carried out in a timely manner. Autumn rains are not always regular, so trees may lack sufficient moisture.

What is moisture-charging irrigation of trees?

Moisture-recharging watering is done in the fall to ensure the soil is hydrated. This is essential in regions with dry autumns. If there is little rainfall during this time, the soil doesn't have time to absorb moisture and dries out. Pre-winter watering replenishes the soil and helps fruit trees withstand cold weather. Moist soil freezes much more slowly than dry soil, which has a beneficial effect on the root system.

During winter, all moisture gradually freezes, but evaporation continues. Trees must be watered before winter to prevent them from drying out and freezing in the cold. If the soil is well-moistened, its thermal conductivity increases. The heat retained below warms the root system and protects it from freezing.

In addition, winter watering:

enriches trees with vitamins;
gives them other substances for nutrition;
increases crop yields.

Determining fluid requirements

Should fruit trees be watered if the fall is rainy? If the summer is dry, autumn rains won't be enough to properly nourish the soil.

Important!

The depth of water penetration into the ground should be from 1 to 1.5 meters.

Before watering trees in the fall, it's important to determine the soil moisture level. First, dig a small hole between the trees, 30 to 50 cm deep. The soil condition in the hole will indicate how moist the soil is and how much water will be needed.

After digging a hole, the gardener performs a simple test. They take a handful of soil and squeeze it in their hand. If it forms a dense, moist lump saturated with liquid, there's no need to moisten the soil. If the lump is dense but dry (it doesn't leave a wet mark on a piece of cloth), watering is necessary, but the amount of water used should be reduced by 30%. If the soil is crumbly and can't be formed into a lump, it must be moistened.

Which trees need autumn irrigation?

All fruit crops and berry bushes need water in the autumn:

apple trees;
quince;
pears;
apricots;
cherry;
plum;
gooseberries;
raspberries;
currant.

Attention!

Ornamental trees, including conifers, also need moisture.

The soil is soaked as deeply as possible. Quince and apple trees are considered moisture-demanding. Pear and cherry trees are more forgiving. If a tree is grafted onto a wild stock, its drought tolerance will be higher. Crops on clonal rootstocks are no less sensitive than dwarf and columnar trees.

Deciduous trees shed their leaves in winter. Conifers retain their needles throughout the winter, so evaporation occurs continuously. Some plants with overwintering foliage require much more water than simple deciduous trees. Strawberries also retain their green foliage throughout the winter. Heathers and rhododendrons, which evaporate a lot of moisture from the soil, require moisture.

Autumn precipitation can only soak the top layers of soil. Drizzle is a poor companion for a gardener, even if it's constant. Watering trees in autumn is unnecessary only if there's heavy rainfall. Fruit crops have strong root systems that extend deep into the soil.

Temperature and time

The optimal time for autumn irrigation is October and the first half of November. This procedure should be carried out after the leaves begin to fall.

Important!

Avoid heavy watering until the leaves begin to fall. This can stimulate the growth of new branches and buds, which will adversely affect the overwintering process.

As soon as the air temperature drops to +2-3C and the leaves begin to fall, it’s time for autumn water treatments.

Water consumption standards

When irrigating, consider the soil composition and drainage. If drainage is poor, the soil should be soaked to a depth of 1 meter or more. Water application rates are as follows:

young tree - from 30 to 40 l;
adult tree (10-15 years) - from 40 to 70 l;
old crops - up to 100 l;
bush - 50 l.

If winter promises to be cold and early, irrigation measures are carried out before the first stable frosts.

Autumn irrigation techniques

There are three methods of autumn irrigation:

from a bucket or hose;
drip technique;
irrigation equipment.

When water is supplied from a bucket or hose, a large volume of liquid falls onto the soil. On level ground, the liquid remains in the tree trunks and does not run off.

Advice!

If the area is level, several trenches are dug leading to the tree trunks. Water supplied by hoses through the trenches feeds several trees at once.

If the site is on a slope, a sprinkler spray is used. The liquid penetrates evenly into the soil, but this carries the risk of increasing air humidity. If left unchecked, garden crops can become infected with fungi.

Contraindications to autumn watering

When irrigating, soil "waterlogging" is impossible, especially in sandy and loamy areas. The only possible contraindication is a close groundwater table to the upper soil layers. In such conditions, gardeners create artificial mounds for planting crops to prevent their roots from dying from excess moisture.

Reviews

Alexey (Krasnodar Krai):

"My plot is loamy, and the groundwater table is close to the ground. Because of this, my apple trees weren't growing well. Two of them almost died. It later turned out that the groundwater table was too close to the topsoil, and the fall 'water recharge' wasn't necessary. Luckily, I figured this out in time; otherwise, the trees would have definitely died. I fertilize them regularly and make sure they don't get overwatered. If the roots start to rot, I'll replant them."

Vera (Moscow region):

"A neighbor praises drip irrigation and often advises us, 'Water your apple trees with drip irrigation—what's the problem?' I have a lot of apple and pear trees on my property. An experienced gardener told me that drip irrigation isn't suitable for them: their roots go deep into the soil, so they require more water in the fall. I water them with a hose; my husband and I dug several trenches through which we supply water. The garden blooms beautifully and produces a bountiful harvest every year."

Maxim (Voronezh region):

"We have new neighbors in our village. They inherited a house with an apple orchard. They're new to gardening, so they asked me for advice. They were concerned about how to tell if the trees needed watering before the cold weather sets in. I advised them to dig a 50-cm-deep hole in their yard and take a handful of soil from the bottom. When they did this, the soil crumbled in their hand, making it impossible to form a tight ball. So, it turned out that the trees needed moisture. I recommend this simple method to everyone."

Autumn soil irrigation is essential for the successful wintering of fruit crops. If gardeners understand the specifics of these agricultural measures, they will help maintain the strength and health of their trees during the cold winter.