SteadySpring® 24" Smart 30+Day Tree Watering Mat - AUTO Refills with RAIN and Slow Releases As Plant Needs - for Root Balls 11" - 15" Dia Slow Release Technology Prevents Over and Under Watering (1)

I needed something to help keep my tree watered more consistently without having to constantly drag the hose out. Overall, I think it is a smart idea and useful if you have new trees or plants that need steady moisture, especially in spots that are annoying to water regularly. One setup tip-- for this size, a 5-gallon bucket was not big enough to get the beads inside fully saturated evenly. If you want it fully soaked from the beginning, I would use a larger tote instead. I used one of those black 27 gal totes with the yellow lid, filled it with water, and soaked the mat in there so it could absorb more evenly. This may not be totally necessary if you live somewhere like the PNW where it rains often, but it helped with the initial setup. I like that it can hold water from rain or hose watering and slowly release it into the soil. It is helpful if you sometimes forget to water or if the tree is in a spot that is inconvenient to reach. I would not completely rely on it without checking the soil, but it does give extra support between waterings. One thing to be aware of is that the bottom can feel a little slimy from the gel material, so do not be surprised if you lift it and notice that texture. And like other reviewers said, I would also check underneath occasionally for bugs, especially if insects or termites are a concern in your area. There were giant slugs underneath... I think this is best for new trees, small trees, or plants that need more consistent moisture. It is definitely NOT a magic fix, but a helpful (and a bit expensive) tool.

I've been working with these for over a year in the Northeast (US). Plants that like moist soil look happier, grow faster, even in the snow and ice we currently have on the ground (evergreens). I've found they are an excellent investment, reduces the amount of time I spend fussing over new additions to the garden and watering them, which initially can be a time sink. The 24' are freezing a bit at the top with current winter weather (January) but the bottom where the gel is remains soft and the soil remains moist (not freezing). They are not cheap but I think we'll come out ahead after factoring in water/time/fussing costs, my belief is that they'll help new plants mature more quickly, so far playing out well.

I've bought and recommended the original TreeDiaper mats to friends and neighbors for years, so I was excited to replace my aging 2021 units with a fresh 4-pack of the new 24" mats. Unfortunately, that excitement didn't last long. Right out of the gate, these new mats never fully charge. After a 36-hour initial soak in a 5-gallon bucket, they were still only filling to about 2/3 to 3/4 capacity — and it never improved with use. Even with an in-ground irrigation system running every other day plus several inches of rain, the mats are drained and need re-soaking after about 9 days, compared to the reliable performance I remember from the older version. When I reached out to support, I expected some troubleshooting help. Instead, I got a long series of emails blaming my municipal water quality and irrigation habits, despite the fact that I soak and refill these units using water that runs through a fully maintained, professionally tested 4-year-old whole-house softener. When I pointed this out — along with actual local rainfall data showing plenty of soft rainwater exposure — the response I got was essentially a shrug: "the product is in spec, feel free to leave a review based on your feelings, not facts." That's a pretty telling way to treat a repeat customer who's raising a legitimate, well-documented product performance issue. If the manufacturing process "hasn't changed since 2018" as I was told repeatedly, then something else clearly changed with this batch, because the performance has not held up. Rather than acknowledge the possibility of a bad batch or offer a resolution, I was directed to run my own water experiments and largely dismissed. I wanted to love these mats again — I've been a genuine advocate for this product in the past. But between the underperformance of the new mats and the dismissive support experience, I can't recommend them right now. If you're considering buying, I'd wait and see if others report the same charging issues before investing in a multi-pack.

I bought this tree watering mat last year for a Japanese Maple that I had recently planted. The mat quickly absorbed water during the initial soak, and held water well after it rained. The mat held up all winter, and has done great watering the tree all summer. My Japanese Maple has been a fast grower (at least 3 feet this year alone!). We have had an extremely hot summer with many 95+ days, and the tree has done so well thanks to this watering mat. I just bought 3 more watering mats for another Japanese Maple, Crepe Myrtle, and ornamental tree. These mats also soaked up water incredibly well after the initial soak, and has been a huge help in ensuring the trees are receiving ample water. The quality on these mats are just as good as the mat I bought last year, and I am looking forward to seeing how well these trees do through the remaining summer months, and into next year! These tree watering mats should have much better reviews. They work incredibly well, and provide peace of mind knowing the trees are receiving water even during dry spells. Highly recommend. 10/10.

seem to hold moisture from rain and snow very well.

So far so good. Works as indicated. Could not be easier

These have saved my new blueberry bushes during this summer dry spell, if I go out of town I don’t have to worry about not being there to water.

I expected more for the price. During the hot summer months these are not lasting nearly 30 days. Didn't have issues with them holding water, but didn't seem like rain actually would refill. Had to put these in buckets of water for them to refill, not a huge deal but still something to note. Trees didnt seem to get better after using them so ended up not using them and made a drip system with a bucket instead.