Soil Moisture Preferences:

Annual precipitation totals in Arkansas range roughly from 45 to 55 inches across the state, with totals increasing from northwest to southeast (due to the greater availability of Gulf of Mexico moisture in the southeast). December and January tend to be the wet months in the southern counties, while March through May is the northern wet period. The driest month tends to be August.

Determining or recommending an exact number of inches of moisture for any given tree is difficult due to variation in compacted urban soils, soil type, and site microclimates. The best rule of thumb for watering trees is thoroughly, deeply and less often. Trees are not drought tolerant until they are well established which can take 2 to 3 years after planting.

Trees can be grouped however according to general soil moisture preferences.

Drought tolerant trees will tolerate drier sites once they are established, some even preferring drier soil types. They are generally not as affected by drought even though leaves may scorch during extreme drought conditions.

Common Name	Scientific Name
American Elm	Ulmus americana
Ashe Juniper	Juniperus ashei
Bur Oak	Quercus macrocarpa
Cherry Laurel	Prunus caroliniana
Crapemyrtle - Natchez	Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez'
Desert Willow	Chilopsis linearis
Eastern Redbud	Cercis canadensis
Eastern White Pine	Pinus strobus
Flowering Dogwood	Cornus florida
Ginkgo - Autumn Gold	Ginkgo biloba 'AutumnGold'
Golden Catalpa - Aurea	Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’
Goldenraintree	Koelreuteria paniculata
Green Ash	Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Honeylocust	Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis
Japanese Maple	Acer palmatum
Kentucky Coffeetree	Gymnocladus dioicus
Lacebark Elm	Ulmus parvifolia
Live Oak	Quercus virginiana
Northern Red Oak	Quercus rubrum
Ornamental Pear - Bradford	Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'
Osage - orange	Maclura pomifera 'White Shield'
Persian Parrotia	Parrotia persica
Persimmon	Diospyros virginiana
Post Oak	Quercus stellata
Redbud - 126	Cercis canadensis
Redbud - Forest Pansy	Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'
Sawtooth Oak	Quercus acutissima
Scarlet Oak	Quercus coccinea
Shortleaf Pine	Pinus echinata
Shumard Oak	Quercus shumardii
Trident Maple	Acer buergerianum
Winged Elm	Ulmus alata