What is drip irrigation? A detailed explanation.

Drip irrigation delivers water slowly and precisely to the soil. Instead of releasing a large amount of water all at once, the water gradually reaches the root zone drop by drop.

This gives the soil more time to absorb the water and reduces surface runoff. At the same time, drip irrigation systems can be automated and adjusted to the plants' water needs.

But how exactly does drip irrigation work? What systems are available? And is it also suitable for larger and older trees? You can find more information in the article. How can I water trees properly?

Content

• What is drip irrigation?
• Why is slow watering beneficial for trees?
• How does an irrigation bag work?
• What are the advantages of an irrigation bag?
• For which trees are watering bags suitable?
• How much water fits in an irrigation bag?
• How long does an irrigation bag release water?
• How often should an irrigation bag be filled?
• Where should an irrigation bag be placed?
• Irrigation bag or classic drip irrigation?

What is drip irrigation?

In drip irrigation, water is released slowly and over a longer period into the soil. Classic drip irrigation systems consist of hoses or pipes with small drippers. This means the water doesn't reach the soil all at once, but gradually. 

This is particularly beneficial in dry conditions, compacted or on sloping soils. If a large amount of water is applied too quickly, some of it will run off the surface. With a slower water supply, the soil has more time to absorb the water.

For flower beds, hedges, orchards or larger plantings, permanently installed drip hoses can therefore be a sensible solution.

However, those who want to water individual trees don't necessarily need a permanently installed irrigation system. Watering bags use a similar basic principle of slow water release and can be used in just a few simple steps.

Why is slow watering beneficial for trees?

A tree needs a sufficient amount of water when watered. A few liters of water often only moisten the top few centimeters of soil and are insufficient, especially for larger trees.

At the same time, larger quantities of water should ideally be applied in such a way that they can actually seep into the ground. And this isn't a given in every location. Particularly compacted urban soils, dried-out soils, and sloping terrain can only absorb water to a limited extent or slowly. If, for example, watering is done very quickly with a garden hose in these situations, some of the water will simply run off the surface.

A slower water release can reduce surface runoff and allow the water to gradually penetrate the soil. However, this doesn't mean that watering cans or garden hoses are unsuitable. Trees can still be watered thoroughly and slowly with these methods. An irrigation bag, however, takes some of the work off your hands.

How does an irrigation bag work?

The principle of a Irrigation bag It's simple: The bag is placed around the trunk of a tree and closed with a zipper. Then it is filled with water through the designated opening.

Small openings on the underside ensure that the water does not immediately run out of the bag, but is slowly released to the ground over several hours.

At a baumbad watering bag Depending on the model, 75 or 100 liters of water can be provided for one irrigation process.

What are the advantages of an irrigation bag?

The biggest advantage lies in the combination of a larger volume of water and slow release.

1. Slow water release: The water gradually seeps into the ground over several hours. This gives the ground time to absorb the moisture.

2. Less time spent watering: Instead of watering the tree with a hose over a longer period of time or carrying numerous watering cans, the bag is filled once.

3. Controllable amount of water: Without a flow meter, it's often difficult to estimate how many liters of water have actually been dispensed using a garden hose. With a watering bag, the amount of water is easier to track: a fully filled 75-liter bag contains approximately 75 liters of water.

4. No permanent installation: Unlike a traditional drip irrigation system, there's no need to lay hoses, install drippers, or set up an irrigation controller. This means the bag can be used on different types of trees.

For which trees are watering bags suitable?

Watering bags are particularly well-suited for newly planted and young trees. After planting, a tree has not yet developed an extensive root system at its new location. It is therefore more dependent on the soil around its root ball remaining sufficiently moist. In this case, the tree watering bag can be attached directly to the trunk of the tree.

Tree watering bags are also suitable for older trees. However, for older trees, we recommend placing the watering bags on a stake in the root area of ​​the tree, because older trees have their fine roots No more water on the trunk. Depending on the size and location of the tree, several bags or other watering methods may be useful.

How much water fits in an irrigation bag?

Watering bags are available in different capacities. For example, classic tree watering bags hold 75 or 100 liters of water, depending on the model. However, this doesn't automatically tell you how much water a tree actually needs. Water requirements depend on several factors, including:

• Size and age of the tree
• Tree species
• Soil
• Location
• Temperature
• rainfall
• Duration of the dry period

An irrigation bag is therefore primarily a tool for delivering water. The required amount of water must still be adjusted to the specific tree and location.

How long does an irrigation bag release water?

A tree bath watering bag releases the filled water drop by drop into the soil over several hours. The actual emptying time can vary. It depends, for example, on the model, the amount of water, and the conditions at the location.

Therefore, check the bag occasionally. If it empties unusually quickly or the water remains in it for a very long time, you should check whether the drainage holes are clear and the bag is set up correctly.

How often should an irrigation bag be filled?

There is no universally applicable rule for this. How often a tree should be watered depends on the weather, the soil, the size of the tree, and especially on whether the tree is newly planted or already established.

Generally speaking, it is often more effective to apply larger amounts of water to trees at longer intervals, rather than watering them with just a few liters every day. This allows the soil to be moistened to a greater depth.

Therefore, regularly check the soil moisture and take into account the rainfall of the past few days. A watering bag should not simply be filled according to a rigid schedule if the soil is still sufficiently moist.

Where should an irrigation bag be placed?

For young and newly planted trees, the watering bag is usually placed directly around the trunk. There, it can slowly water the area around the root ball and the surrounding soil.

The trunk should be suitable for the respective model and the bag should be attached according to the instructions for use.

For older trees, a different strategy is advisable. These trees have many fine roots located further away from the trunk. If an irrigation bag is to be used for an established tree, it can, for example, be attached to a stake in the root zone. For larger trees, multiple irrigation points may be beneficial.

This allows the principle of the irrigation bag to be used without always having to irrigate the same small area directly at the trunk.

Irrigation bag or classic drip irrigation?

Both systems release water slowly to the ground, but are suitable for different situations.

A classic drip irrigation system with hoses and drippers is particularly useful when many plants need to be watered regularly. It can be permanently installed and connected to an automatic control system. For individual trees, this effort may be unnecessarily high. 

In contrast, an irrigation bag requires no permanent installation. It is set up, filled, and then releases water automatically. In simpler terms:

• Many trees, hedges or larger planting areas: A fixed drip irrigation system can be useful.
• For individual young or newly planted trees: an irrigation bag is often the simpler solution.
• Large, established trees: Here, the size of the root zone must be taken into account. Depending on the location, multiple irrigation points or other systems may be more suitable.

If you're still unsure which method is right for your tree, you can find help in our guide. Watering trees: a comparison of watering bags, watering cans, watering rims or drip irrigation? a detailed comparison.