Is it possible to plant native trees without watering?

12 years ago

I have recently purchased a 2.6 acre residential lot which will not be developed for about 12 years. It is a beautiful lot; I feel blessed to own it. The lot is at elevation 1700 ft and has about a 15-18 degree varying slope with some flatter and steeper areas. The lot has 26 mature Saguaros, and many barrel cacti and some native ironwoods and palo verde.

I would like to do some plantings now such that when the lot is developed, more mature trees will be in place. Here's the problem: I will have no way to water or take care of the trees or cacti. I live out of state. Unless I pay someone, they will receive absolutely no care. There will be no irrigation for years to come.

I know I can only plant native species that are highly drought resistant. However, is it reasonable to expect that they would even survive? Are there some tricks, like burying some 55 gal drums with water that could slowly seep out? Do landscape companies use water trucks (and if so, how much, how often, and how costly?)

It would be wonderful to plant a number of mesquite, palo verde, or ironwood trees now and have them more mature in a decade. However, would they survive if carefully planted with mulch, but then left completely alone?

If not trees, are there any species of cacti that could tolerate the same neglect?

Thanks for your thoughts and experience!

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Comments (3)

MaryMcP Zone 8b - Phx AZ
12 years ago
There is a small group of us trying this 'new' concept of Groasis. Check it out at the link below. Sounds like just what you need although it's a bit pricey.

Here is a link that might be useful: Groasis WaterBoxx
lazy_gardens
12 years ago
The only time the untended natives have a good establishment rate is when we have a really wet winter and a good rainy season the next year. And in 10-12 years you will have a skinny young tree, not the mature trees you are thinking of.

Have you developed a land use plan so you know where you will put your house? You need that before you start planting trees.

If you wait until you get here, site the house to take advantage of the existing mature vegetation and then do some "rain harvesting" and careful irrigation you can get native trees larger than the 12-year old untended ones in a couple of years. The limiting factor in their growth rate is water.

The "Groasis" is a lot of hype, but unproven in AZ.
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Fascist_Nation
12 years ago
To add to lazygardens message, you could try to determine where the water falling onto your property now flows and make some swales and small retention "dams" now and encourage more water to soak into your property rather than flow off. This will increase the size (and density) of the native vegetation in the area of theses structures over 12 years time.

Otherwise everyone is pretty much correct...natives don't need additional water when mature, but newly planted will need some attention until they get established.