Helping trees during droughts

[tstex]

Hello to all,

Well, here in SE/SC Texas, we have been in the worse drought since at least 1918...still in the worse category, "exceptional".  Have lost a lot of water/pin oaks and trying to do what I can with (8) 100ft hoses for my 100-200 yr live oaks.

Have about 100 acres and there is no way, of course, I can get to them all.  However, I wanted to know the best and most efficient way(s) I can use both my time, water and hoses?  For very mature live oaks, here are a few questions:

Where [drip line, further in/out in ft] is the best place to water?  What is the best method?  Any do's or dont's?  Finally, are there any supplements/fertilizers that can aid during the watering process?

My soils are a sandly loam with bahia grass [brown/dead & some off-green colors], then clay about 4-5 ft down.  Have cows running around too.

Thank you very much, any and all suggestions welcomed.

Regards,
tstex

[beenthere]

Sorry to hear of that drought.

For the watering, I'd see about getting a ground mulch (layer of hay, dead grass, straw...) cover that will hold moisture and also allow less evaporation from the dry, hot air. The drip line would likely work the best.

Wish you well in protecting and helping the trees.

[Sprucegum]

It would help if you could keep the cows away from the trees too. It may not be obvious on the surface but they pack the soil and add more stress to the root systems.

[WDH]

I would spray and kill the grass and cover with a mulch like BT said. 

[tcsmpsi]

Well, it has been a month since this thread started,  no rain has yet been forthcoming in the area and the heat has been in the 100s every day.  So, what was already "exceptional", has become much worse.  

Any update on how your trees have fared, tstx?