11 Trees That Need Extra Water in Late Summer

How much water a tree needs depends on how fast it’s growing, or how much fruit it has to ripen. Quick-growing cherry trees need lots of water in spring while the cherries ripen, but they’re more tolerant of drought in late summer than apples or pears, for example.

Apples and pears ripen at the end of the growing season. They use the summer heat and sunshine to photosynthesize and generate energy. This energy helps them grow sweet, juicy, and plump fruits full of flavor and nutrients.

Tree roots dry and wither without sufficient moisture. The leaves will then shrivel, and the fruit or nuts will drop before they can fully ripen. Don’t worry—it takes a while to get that bad! Give these trees extra water in late summer and you’ll keep them happy, healthy, and vigorous.

Fuyu Persimmon

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Fuyu Persimmon Tree

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Almond

	botanical name Prunus dulcis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10-15’
	hardiness zones 7-9

Almonds are drought-tolerant, though they benefit from regular moisture during the growing season. You’ll find better yields this year and more flowers next year if you give these trees extra water now than if you let them dry out.

Almonds are closely related to plums, peaches, and cherries. They flower prolifically in early spring, and their white blossoms emerge from bare branches before the leaves. Both ornamental and an edible food crop, almond trees are exceptional for home gardens in temperate climates. 

Almonds appreciate well-drained soil that receives consistent moisture. Give them extra water during heat waves and long droughts.

Apple

	botanical name Malus domestica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-30’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Apples are one of the most famous fruits worldwide! They taste delicious fresh, and they make a whole array of goods like juices, sauces, jams, and ciders. Many home orchards have two or more apples growing in them. 

Apple trees flower in spring, and their fruits ripen over the course of the growing season. Without sufficient moisture, the apples may drop prematurely instead of swelling and ripening. That’s why these trees benefit from extra water now.

Give your apples regular water from spring through fall until the leaves fall. Consistent moisture helps with fruit ripening, bud formation, and root growth. Potted trees dry quicker than those in the ground. They may require daily watering during the late summer season.

Asian Pear

	botanical name Pyrus pyrifolia
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 20-40’
	hardiness zones 5-8

Asian pears are one of my favorite fruits. These unique-looking specimens have a flavor that’s a mix between an apple and a pear. The texture is soft, but crunchy.

Asian pears, like apples, ripen in late summer. The trees’ roots need plenty of water during the ripening period to ensure their pears swell correctly. 

When you give these trees extra water, try to water the roots instead of the leaves. Thin the pears to one fruit per spur to ensure no breakage occurs. 

Hazelnut

	botanical name Corylus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-50’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Hazelnuts grow on trees, too. These nut trees also go by the name “filbert.” They have serrated, oval leaves and nuts with paper husks that cover and protect them. 

How much extra water your hazelnut tree needs depends on the species and variety you’re growing. American hazelnuts grow well with little extra care in their native range. 

Commercial hazelnuts, like the European species and its hybrids, need regular watering in the absence of natural rainfall. Grow them in free-draining soil, and ensure their soil never dries out completely. 

Lemon

	botanical name Citrus x limon
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10-20’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Tart, juicy lemons are a famous sight in warm regions of the U.S. Lemon trees need frost-free winters to ripen their fruits, and they’ll suffer damage in frosty gardens during the cold months. They need warm temperatures and plenty of moisture to grow well. 

Give your potted lemons daily watering in late summer. In-ground lemons may thrive with less watering, so you can irrigate them once or twice a week if there’s no rain. 

They are drought-tolerant, but they’ll have better, more tart lemons if you give the trees extra water. Set up a hose on a timer or use a programmable system to avoid having to remember when to water. 

Lime

	botanical name Citrus x aurantiifolia
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-13’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Limes, like lemons, grow best in frost-free regions with mild winters. They produce small, round citrus fruits that most cooks use when they’re green and immature. You may let them ripen on the tree until they’re yellow for a sweeter, less tart flavor than the green ones. 

Limes suffer from too much water more than from underwatering. Plant your saplings in soil with good drainage, and let the ground dry before adding more water. 

Lime trees may need extra water at the end of summer when rainfall is infrequent and temperatures are high. Put the hose on a low trickle, then set it near the roots for an hour to soak the ground. 

Orange

	botanical name Citrus x sinensis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8-30’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Oranges are close relatives of limes and lemons in the Citrus genus. The trees produce round, orange fruits with sweet, juicy, and flavorful flesh. To ripen properly, orange trees need consistent moisture from the bloom period until harvest.

Orange trees need extra water when the weather is hot, dry, and arid. Use your finger if you’re unsure. Stab it in the soil, and feel if the ground is dry beneath the surface. Water if it is, and hold off if it isn’t.

Avoid overwatering orange trees, especially when they’re growing in dense soil with minimal drainage. They may rot when the site stays soggy for too long. 

Pear

	botanical name Pyrus communis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 40-50’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Pears are full of water. To ripen properly, these fruits need consistent irrigation while they swell, thicken, and mature. Don’t let the soil dry out, or the pears may drop to the ground before they’re ready to eat. 

Overhead watering can spread diseases that affect the pears and the leaves. Use a hose to water the soil, or set up automatic irrigation to ensure water soaks the ground and not the foliage. 

Some pears are dwarves or semi-dwarves that easily tuck into small gardens. These trees need extra water compared to full-size specimens, as their small rootballs struggle to support large canopies. 

Persimmon

	botanical name Diospyros kaki, D. virginiana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 20-80’
	hardiness zones 4-10

Two main persimmon species grow well in home gardens for fruit: the American and Japanese persimmons. These two types grow orange, fleshy persimmon fruits that keep well during the winter. They’re iconic fall species, and their persimmons work well in edible arrangements and decorations.

Persimmon trees need extra water in summer while they mature. They’ll suffer from fruit drop and poor yields if they face frequent droughts. Test the soil frequently, and pay close attention to the site from late summer through early fall.

Plum

	botanical name Prunus domestica
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10-20’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Common plum trees are exceptional fruiting specimens. They grow plums at the end of the growing season, alongside apples, pears, and persimmons. They need more water than most other fruit trees, and extra water may be necessary during dry periods in late summer.

Watch your plum tree closely to see how it’s doing. If its leaves are dry and beginning to shrivel, the tree is in desperate need of moisture. Water the site well, letting the ground soak for an hour or longer.

Plums may sprout suckers from their base when they sit in moist soil. Prune the suckers when you see them to ensure a thicket doesn’t form.

Walnut

	botanical name Juglans regia
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 40-60’
	hardiness zones 3-7

English walnuts are one of the most common species in commercial orchards. They hail from Europe, though they perform well in West Coast climates. They grow so well in the U.S. that 99% of the world’s walnuts come from California!