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Just learned a mature oak can transpire over 40,000 gallons of water a year, from a forestry extension website.
Was looking up drought stress signs for a client's pin oak. Ended up on a university's page. The number blew my mind. That's a huge amount of water moving through one tree. Makes you think about soil volume and watering needs differently. Anyone have a good rule of thumb for estimating a tree's actual water use on site?
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black.beth2mo ago
Right? That number is insane to picture. It really does change how you look at the ground under a big tree. Makes you realize how much root space they actually need to pull that off. I always try to remind clients that a deep, slow soak is worth more than ten quick sprinklings. That stat just proves it.
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taylorpatel2mo ago
That "deep, slow soak" idea @black.beth is how most good things work, honestly.
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murray.grace1mo ago
Wow, that makes me wonder how many miles of roots are down there all together. It's like a whole hidden city under the lawn.
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