Tree Establishment Experiment in Petersfield

Tree establishment — the critical first few years after planting — is often the make-or-break period for young trees. Get the watering right, and the tree builds strong roots and thrives. Get it wrong, and even a healthy sapling can fail.

In Petersfield, a unique collaboration between Professor Andy Moffat, gardener Phil, and Jonathan Graham set out to answer a simple but important question: what watering method gives newly planted trees the best start?

The Experiment

Three sets of trees — crab apple and hazel — were planted in comparable conditions. Each set was given a different watering approach:

1. Manual watering — traditional method, watered on a regular schedule by the gardener
2. Nature only — left entirely to rainfall, with no human intervention
3. Sensor-triggered — LoRaWAN soil moisture sensors alert the gardener only when water is needed

Each tree was fitted with a soil moisture sensor connected to the Steward of Things platform, providing real-time readings and historical trends.

What We're Learning

Early results are promising. The sensor-triggered trees are receiving water only when they need it, avoiding both over-watering (which can drown roots) and under-watering (which stresses the tree). Meanwhile, the "nature only" trees are showing how resilient — or vulnerable — new plantings can be without support.

This experiment is ongoing, and we'll continue to share findings as the seasons progress. The goal is to develop evidence-based guidelines for tree establishment that councils, community groups, and landowners can adopt.