Location

• Plant avocado trees in a location that will enable you to easily monitor the amount of water the trees get. Do not plant trees too close to the ocean, as they would receive too much salt. Ensure the trees are planted in soil that drains well. Ensure that you will be able to get water to the trees when irrigating is necessary.
  
  

Soil Quality

• If you have poor-quality soil, mix in peat moss or well-rotted compost to increase the quality. The soil pH should be between 5.7 and 6.5. Excess soil moisture leads to Phytophthora root rot, which can lead to lack of new growth and in some cases death of the tree. A'a soil provides a good foundation with adequate draining properties.
  
  

When to Irrigate

• Do not irrigate trees when the soil is too damp. Test the soil's dampness by digging down 9 inches and then squeezing the soil. If it clumps together, you do not need to irrigate at this time. If it is dry, you can irrigate. Proper irrigation helps ensure that the best soil condition is available to the trees. During flowering, relatively dry conditions are ideal, so do not overwater trees during this time. Seasons that are rainy also cut down on the need for irrigation.
  
  

Water Quality

• High chloride levels in irrigation waters (soluble salt levels greater than 120 ppm) can result in chloride toxicity. Check well water before using it to irrigate. You may also want to check the soil for chloride levels to help you determine the conditions of the water you use to irrigate.
  
  

How to Irrigate

• Irrigate slowly, deeply and thoroughly. Do not let water stand around the trees for very long after watering. Apply water to the trees methodically and consistently. The water should help dampen the soil without flooding the area.