Question about native trees and the possible need for watering (Tucson: live in, deal)

[Caladan]

Hello all,

This is our first summer in AZ. We are at approx. 3200' elevation. We have a number of native trees throughout our lot, mostly mesquite and some cat-claw acacias. The are all mature trees, so very well established, and certainly no signs of stress. I had not planned to ever water them, but I thought I would ask: should I water them when the going gets really hot and dry?

If you own or deal with native trees, I would love to hear (read) how you handle them. I don't want to water them at all, but OTOH I don't want to risk loosing them either.

C

[AZgarden]

I lived in Chandler for several years and only watered trees when they were first planted. And now i live in Prescott, about 5400ft elevation, and all the trees are old and I never water any of them. The monsoon rains take care of them and you don't need to.

[wit-nit]

OP they're already acclimated. Don't mess with Mother Nature unless it's necessary. They would only need water if they looked stress with a sudden drooping of limbs (or a sudden dropping all their foliage) at once in the extreme hot months. Generally the summer rains are enough for their needs during the hot months.

[Calizonan]

I used to work in the nursery trade in Tucson. Everything but a creosote bush and saguaro cactus (once fully established--if you are transplanting them to the ground, even they need a little help when young), and whatever was growing completely wild on your plot of land, needs some supplemental watering, at any elevation, especially in the brutal month or so before monsoon season (if the monsoon is reliable in your part of AZ).