I bought 6 Mexican Sycamores today that I'm going to plant on our property. I'm looking at watering options.

We have a water line on the place so I'm thinking I'll get the watering bags I see on trees and fill once a week. Is that the best option?

Younger sycamores need deep watering in good soil or their root ball will develop too shallow. Watering bags probably wil not get you the Mexican Sycamore you are looking for.
jmho

What would you suggest?

There are some inexpensive timers you can pick up at the local hardware or home supply (wired, batteries, and solar options -- your pick). On our new pecans, we set up several to tend to the watering for the first two years. Looking back, I wish we had done drip lines but it still worked well.

Also, keep in mind that sycamores have invasive root systems. Avoid planting near slabs, sidewalks, driveways, or structures.

Thanks. Planting them for shade in what will be pasture. Long way from any pipes or concrete. Seems to be one of the faster shade trees I can find.

Far stronger/heartier than the Bradford Pear (popular, but snaps in a Texas breeze). And the Mexican Sycamore is more robust than the Texas native. Good luck.

Great tree....water bags will be just fine. Make dam sure that root flare is exposed when you plant.

Based on my experience..

I would bag them on planting. But if you surface water to long the roots system will be slow to develop. As soon as tree or shrub develops shape, water at the drip line.

Thr feeder roots extend past the drip line. I have best results pushing growth by adding fertizer spikes, again at the drip line.

There is plenty of examples of drip line irrigation on the web.

Just went through a similar situation myself this year. My trees (fruit trees) are just recently planted so I cant attest to long term success but so far so good. I had water but not electricity nearby so I chose to go with a DC powered automated sprinkler system timer and valves with drip line irrigation. It was a little spendy at first (but not compared to the price of an electric line to the pasture) because I tend to over engineer things based upon past experiences. If you are interested send me a PM and I can elaborate further.

Are you planting them along a drainage? I would choose a different tree if not.

I have not heard good things about those bags.

If I were you I would rent a ditch digger and put in pvc pipe and a faucet in that area. Then like mentioned above put a battery powered timer and bubbles on the trees.

Finally planted these trees today after 2 months of watering them in their pots. I went the drip irrigation route. I decided to plant them along the front of the property where I had a water line fairly close by. the drip system was super easy to put together.

I bought these cause they cheap at a nursery cause they weren't too pretty. After consistant watering, they've put on new leaves and look a lot healthier. A couple of them though seem to be dead at the top (top couple feet). Not sure what will happen with them. I paid like $15 for them so if they don't make it or don't look good, I'm not out much.

Doc, I have drip on my fruit trees, it sure is easy. If you haven't, consider a psi regulator and filter, I read that drip line works best at 40psi or less and can get ruined at higher pressures.

Ordered mine from dripworks

both are installed. I ordered from dripdepot.com. They had a kit already put together that had pressure regulator, filter and everything all together.