Small update.
To all those that recommended mulch, thanks. We did mulch the trees, and it helped.
Every stinking oak and pecan tree died. I've never had such bad luck with trees, but at the cost, it was worth a shot. All the loblolly pines are doing well with all the rain we got this Spring.
Now that's it's time to actually start watering, I zip tied water bottles to the markers, cut out the bottom, and drilled a 1/32" hole in the cap. Now we can just drive by, and fill the bottle up. No water is wasted on the surrounding ground.
