How Much Water Does an Avocado Tree Need? A Complete Guide

I heard a Master Gardener say she was hesitant to recommend that people plant avocado trees in their Southern California yards because avocados need a lot of water. Sounds sensible at first. We should be careful about our water use. But let’s think further.

Unless you’re also going to stop eating avocados, then you haven’t automatically saved water just by not growing avocados in your own yard. You have merely paid an avocado farmer to use the required water to grow your avocados.

Moreover, these avocados might be grown in a grove within walking distance of your yard. There are avocado groves all over the place, from San Diego County up through Santa Barbara County and even farther north. Your neighborhood avocado grove might even be using water from the same source as your yard (the local water district, for example). In this case, there’s absolutely no water saved; the only difference is who is using the water.

So what if you decided to plant an avocado tree in your yard and grow your own avocados instead of paying a farmer to grow your avocados? How much water does an avocado tree actually need? And how many avocados would a tree give you for that amount of water?

My experience in my Southern California yard as well as through observing many other trees in the region is that an avocado tree needs about as much water as a patch of grass that takes up the same amount of ground space.

In other words, the water needed to keep a 100-square-foot patch of grass green in the summer could also keep a similarly sized avocado tree healthy and fruitful.

Well, how much water is that? Let’s use a tree with a 14-foot canopy as an example since I have one of those in the common Hass variety. In an average year, I’ve found that there is little to no irrigation needed from the month of December through March. But as you can see in the table, avocado trees need a lot of water through the summer.

To be specific, I gave my 14-foot Hass avocado tree approximately 3,000 gallons over the course of the year 2017, which was not far from average in precipitation.

The cost of water in my district of Southern California is $6.71 per hundred cubic feet, which equals $6.71 per 748 gallons. So I spent about four HCF, or almost $27 in water on that Hass avocado tree in 2017.

In 2017, that Hass avocado tree gave us 156 avocados. But the year before it gave us only 73. The crop is always different, but an average of the last two years is about the overall average, I’d guess. That would be 115, but just to be cautious let’s round down to 100. Average production: 100 avocados per year.

At a water cost of $27 for a yield of 100 avocados, that’s 27 cents per avocado.

Of course, there are some other costs involved in growing an avocado tree in your yard, but at least for my trees in my yard, after the original purchase of the tree, they’re almost zero compared to the cost of water. And in terms of the cost of water, growing your own avocado tree seems like the obvious right choice for anyone with a yard in a suitable climate, such as here in Southern California.

Welcome . . .

Im Greg. My goal is to help you grow food at home, with a focus on vegetables and fruits — especially avocados — in Southern California. I write a new “Yard Post” every Friday.

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HOW MUCH TO WATER AVOCADO TREES – My Irrigation practices in Hot Weather!

FAQ

Do avocado trees like a lot of water?

Watering – Avocado roots need plenty of air, so avoid overwatering. Always let container soil dry out slightly, then water thoroughly to moisten the entire root ball. If your container tree moves outdoors for summer, expect to water daily.

How many gallons of water does an avocado tree need a day?

When watering the tree, it is best to soak the soil well, then allow it to dry out somewhat before watering again. Of course, like most plants, you don’t want the tree to get too dry. The rule of thumb for mature trees is about 20 gallons of water a day during the irrigation season.

Can avocados be overwatered?

Generally, an overwatered Avocado will have yellowing leaves and may even drop some leaves. Also, overwatering can cause the overall structure of your plant to shrivel and may also promote root rot. On the other hand, an underwatered Avocado will also begin to wilt.

How do I know if my avocado plant needs water?

Recognizing When Your Avocado Plant is Thirsty

When they start to wilt or droop, it’s their way of waving a white flag for hydration. If the soil looks as dry and crumbly as a forgotten loaf of bread, that’s another red flag. And when you spot brown leaf tips and edges, it’s akin to your plant crying out for a drink.

How much water does an avocado need?

Avocado is considered a water-intensive crop. The exact amounts of water needed depend on the environmental conditions, the soil characteristics, and the age of the trees. Generally, a mature tree needs at least 1,000-1,300 mm (40-50 in) of rain per year (1).

Do avocado trees need to be watered?

First, you need to dig the soil around the tree to a depth of 6-9 inches. Next, test the soil by pressing it firmly against your palm. If the soil sticks together, there is no need for watering. But if the soil crumbles, then it should be watered. While they require a lot of water, avocado trees do not thrive in areas prone to flooding.

How much rain do avocado trees need?

In comparison, California is an arid Mediterranean climate with low rainfall. For best growth and yields avocado trees need a minimum amount of water each year, approximately 40-50 inches of rain, and moist soils in order to support the number of roots needed for healthy avocado trees.

Do avocado trees need irrigation?

Since avocado is native to the humid subtropical and tropical regions with abundant rainfall, crop cultivation in different climatic zones and environmental conditions may need extra irrigation to cover the plant’s water requirements. After transplanting, the farmer can create a basin around each tree to collect water from rain or irrigation.

How often should you water an avocado tree?

You can water your avocado trees 2-3 times each week. When the roots begin to reach into the soil, you switch things up. At this point, you can increase the volume of water and switch to watering once a week. When you water your tree, ensure you soak the soil and leave it to dry before you water again.

How do you water an avocado tree?

Drip irrigation or micro-sprinklers are ideal for watering avocado trees. Avoid overhead sprinklers. Drip emitters should be dispersed evenly under the canopy. Run long enough for moisture to penetrate deeply. Hand watering with a hose around the trunk works for young trees. Move outward as tree grows. Mulch basins help conserve soil moisture.