WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Ulmus pumila, WUCOLS IV

How often to water Siberian elm in California

In July in the Central Valley, established Siberian elm in loam needs a deep watering about every 20 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 19 gallons a week. Siberian elm is a fast-growing deciduous tree from northern China and eastern Siberia that withstands drought and poor soil. Its small, toothed leaves turn yellow in fall, and tiny flowers in early spring give way to masses of winged seeds. It is weak-wooded and seeds freely, so plan for cleanup as well as water.

TreeRated for 5 of 6 zones

How often to water Siberian elm, month by month

Your city
Canopy width
10 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for Siberian elm and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area under the branches, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure canopy width

A tree with its canopy width marked across the widest branches and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the branches, from the tips of the outer leaves on one side to the tips on the other. A tape works, or pace it out.

Water the whole circle under the branches, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that circle.

A wider canopy means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While the tree is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil dry 6 inches down under the canopy edge means a young Siberian elm is ready for a deep soak
  • Leaves yellowing and dropping in midsummer during a long dry spell can show drought stress, especially in desert heat
  • Skeletonized or chewed leaves point to elm leaf beetle, a pest problem rather than thirst
  • Sunken, cracked patches of bark point to canker disease, which extra water will not cure
  • Yellowing leaves while the ground stays soggy suggest the roots are short of air

How to water it

  • Water a young Siberian elm across its root ball and the soil around it with a slow soaker
  • Wet the soil 18 to 24 inches down, then let it dry well before soaking again
  • Plant in sun to part shade in well-drained soil, away from roofs and parking spots under its weak limbs
  • Mulch the root zone with wood chips, keeping a bare ring around the trunk
  • Move irrigation outward as the canopy spreads, which happens quickly on this fast grower

Through the seasons

Water a newly planted Siberian elm deeply through its first summers while roots spread. Established trees withstand drought, and in the deserts they still need regular deep soakings through the hot months. Tiny flowers open before the leaves in early spring, winged seeds follow, and the leaves turn yellow before dropping in fall. Irrigation matters most from leaf out through early fall. WUCOLS rates Siberian elm low water on the north-central coast, in the Central Valley and in South Inland. It rates moderate water in the high desert and the low desert. WUCOLS marks it as not suited to the south coast.

In pots

Siberian elm grows too fast and too large for long-term container life. A seedling can wait in a deep pot until planting. Check 2 to 3 inches down every few days in summer heat, water when dry, and empty the saucer afterward. In winter the bare tree needs little water. Plant it out before roots circle the pot, and choose the site with care, since it seeds and suckers freely.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
1.07gal per sq ft in JulyLow water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
6.84 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.761.52.33.00.16JAN0.26FEB0.43MAR0.61APR0.83MAY0.99JUN1.07JUL0.95AUG0.72SEP0.47OCT0.22NOV0.14DEC0.761.52.33.00.16JFM0.61AMJ1.07JAS0.47OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 1.07 in Jul, 6.84 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Siberian Elm: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.150.16–0.310.740.78
Feb0.210.26–0.350.930.93
Mar0.350.43–0.521.461.52
Apr0.470.61–0.641.891.95
May0.580.83–0.782.392.45
Jun0.640.99–0.922.852.79
Jul0.641.07–13.042.85
Aug0.60.95–0.932.792.6
Sep0.50.72–0.742.142.08
Oct0.350.47–0.531.461.49
Nov0.190.22–0.360.930.96
Dec0.120.14–0.270.650.68
Year4.86.84–7.3721.2721.08

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated low water in the Central Valley, like Siberian elm. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

Olive TreesOlea europaea ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFig TreesFicus carica ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCrape MyrtleLagerstroemia spp., hybrids & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyAloeAloe spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPomegranate TreesPunica granatumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyEucalyptusEucalyptus polyanthemoslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPine TreesPinus canariensislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyJunipersJuniperus spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyTexas Red OakQuercus buckleyilow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPortuguese OakQuercus faginealow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySoapbark TreeQuillaja saponarialow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyNecklace TreeSophora affinislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBailey AcaciaAcacia baileyanalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilver WattleAcacia dealbatalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyGreen WattleAcacia decurrenslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySydney Golden WattleAcacia longifolialow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes Siberian elm, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water Siberian elm in summer?

In July, established Siberian elm in loam needs a deep watering about every 20 days in the Central Valley and about every 22 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does Siberian elm need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established Siberian elm needs about 2.7 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 11 gallons a day under a 20 foot canopy. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for Siberian elm change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates Siberian elm separately for each of the six California climate zones: low water in the North-Central Coastal zone, low water in the Central Valley zone, not suited to this region in the South Coastal zone, low water in the South Inland zone, moderate water in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, moderate water in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Is Siberian elm invasive?

It is considered weedy and borderline invasive in some areas. It self-sows heavily and suckers from the roots. Pull seedlings early and avoid planting it near wild land.

Why do Siberian elm branches break so often?

Its branches are weak, and the tree is known for breakage and a messy habit. Keep it away from roofs, cars and play areas. Watering does not strengthen the wood.

What is eating my Siberian elm leaves?

Elm leaf beetles often feed on this tree, along with borers, sawflies and scale. Treat the pest directly, since leaf damage is not a sign of thirst.

Is Siberian elm the same as Chinese elm?

No, though the names get mixed up. Siberian elm is Ulmus pumila, and the tree usually sold as Chinese elm is Ulmus parvifolia. Check the botanical name on the nursery tag.

Can you overwater Siberian elm?

Yes. It needs well-drained soil, and constantly wet ground can harm the roots. Water deeply, then let the soil dry between soakings.

More plant watering guides

Swamp MahoganyFlooded GumRed IronbarkEvergreen EuonymusCrown of ThornsCreeping SpurgeRigid SpurgeFleeceflower

Sources