About Us

WHAT IS TREEBUDDY?

TreeBuddy is an innovative and uniquely engineered watering system designed to support and quickly establish young trees. Our efficient design is based on science and research that was pioneered by Dr. Edward Gilman from the University of Florida. 

Dr. Gilman’s studies have consistently proven that the frequency of irrigation is far more important than the quantity of irrigation. 

TreeBuddy’s simple, yet effective design embraces Dr. Gilman’s findings while also mimicking how trees are naturally irrigated by rainfall, all while allowing landscapers, home gardeners and farmers alike to conserve water.

OUR PURPOSE & MISSION

The return on investment for a properly planted and cared for tree is priceless. Unfortunately, improper irrigation is the number one reason that new tree plantings fail to produce the desired result. TreeBuddy inventor, and certified arborist, Darrell Downey has extensively studied all aspects of tree care. 

He realized that trees do not require as much water as most growers, landscapers, and even landscape architects believe they do and decided to design the most efficient tree watering system that would provide landscapers and tree growers the ability to plant a tree, and set it up for success without daily monitoring. 

TreeBuddy was created in 2004 under a different name and has blossomed into this efficient, modern design that aids the tree to grow and consume water at a natural rate on its own while helping the planter conserve water and focus on new projects without too much hands-on care of the trees. This makes TreeBuddy a win-win for both the tree and for you.

 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

TreeBuddy is a watering bag that saves water by giving your new tree water at the rate that your tree can actually “drink it”. Water flows out of the bag through a precisely regulated drip emitter, installed near the trunk of your new tree. With each refilling, the TreeBuddy teaches your new tree to live on its own. Imagine your tree as a sponge. Over the first few days, the bag empties faster, causing your “sponge” to get very wet, while still maintaining oxygen in your “sponge’s bubbles.” If you kept your sponge that wet for a long time, your tree would grow leaves and branches very fast, but it would not grow many roots. Why should it? The roots it already has been able to provide the tree with all the water it needs. Your TreeBuddy, with each filling, also sends the tree through a bit of a “stressing cycle.” During the latter part of the week, the TreeBuddy continues to provide a tiny amount of water to the tree, but not as much as it would like to have. During this time of stress, the tree slows its growth of leaves and branches and focuses on growing more roots. The faster we can get your new tree’s roots to grow in an outward direction, the faster it will be able to live on its own.

FAQs

WATER

How does TreeBuddy save water? 

The TreeBuddy saves water by giving your new tree water at the slow rate at which your tree can actually “drink it.” Other methods apply the water much too quickly, causing water to be lost to both surrounding grasses and draining too deeply. This deep water is lost because, in most soils, tree roots cannot grow that deeply because of a lack of oxygen. All water that is not consumed by the tree is wasted. The TreeBuddy minimizes the loss.

How long does it take for a TreeBuddy bag to empty? 

In a typical configuration, the TreeBuddy will drip for over a week, much faster in the beginning, and much slower as the week progresses. We recommend filling once a week for the first couple of weeks then dropping back to once every 2 weeks.

Why is this timeframe important for a tree? 

Tree roots require two things: water and oxygen. Try to envision your tree’s ball of roots and backfill as a wet sponge. After you have allowed any excess water to drain out of your sponge, the sponge is still quite wet. Fortunately, there are many “bubbles” of air all throughout your wet sponge. This represents the very best condition for rapid tree growth because the tree’s roots have access to a lot of both water and oxygen. If you put water into your “sponge” too quickly or don’t provide good drainage, all of the sponge’s “air bubbles” will be filled with water. This excess water pushes all of the oxygen out of the sponge’s “bubbles.” If this condition happens for too long, the tree roots will die.

Can additives or fertilizers be added to the water in the bags? 

Additives and fertilizers may be added to the water in the bags but, it is not needed or recommended. Most trees come from the nursery with more than enough fertilizer already present. Get the watering right and your tree will flourish.

TIME

How does using TreeBuddy save me time? 

Instead of having to manually water your tree every day, you only have to refill the bag once a week for the first few weeks, then once every 2 weeks.

Why does reducing water frequency for a tree help with the deep-water saturation? 

Deep water saturation is a myth. The word “saturation” means that all of the oxygen has been displaced from the soil. Tree roots do not grow where there is no oxygen.

When should I use TreeBuddy in terms of a tree’s life? 

The first day you plant your tree is the most important. Every day that follows becomes less important. For the size of tree that most homeowners plant, the battle is usually won or lost in the first 30 days.

How does the installation process of TreeBuddy differ from other methods? 

Because your TreeBuddy is, unlike other methods, actually designed to live happily with your tree until your new tree is established, it takes a little more time to position the bag around the stem of the tree to allow for air circulation.

How long does TreeBuddy last for my tree? 

In most cases, you will only need to use your TreeBuddy for the first month or the first growing season. With much larger trees or in times of extreme drought, you may need to use it longer.