Watering tubes!!!!

The tubes and grilles covering them that appear next to newly planted trees are not for watering.

Water delivered down this tube, bypasses most roots and delivers water to the base of the rootball.

It should only be used for some water, we estimate about 20%. Watering should occur across the top of the rootball and the immediate area around the rootball. This is where 100% of the roots are. Watering from above is just like how rain waters the roots. Watering via the tube only misses most of the roots.

The pipe is an aeration and irrigation pipe.

It is to deliver both air and water lower than usual to encourage deeper root growth. Roots need air and water, roots breathe (undertake a gaseous exchange), by delivering this air and water lower than normal, it encourages deeper root growth. This is beneficial as it helps the tree when it is dry, by accessing moisture at lower levels, which would be not normally be available to the tree.

There is a common mistake that watering only occurs via the tube. It is vital that the above is understood by the person with the hose.