Upon arrival, the priority is not saturation, but Vascular Stability. Ensure the soil is moist but never "standing." In the California heat, the tree's leaves will transpire faster than the root system can adapt. We recommend morning-only deep irrigation to allow the root zone to 'respire' (breathe) throughout the afternoon heat.
To protect the delicate feeder roots from thermal shock, maintain a 3-inch "Airtight" mulch ring. Coarse pine bark is preferable. This regulates the soil temperature at a constant level, preventing the fine-root desiccation that leads to canopy die-back.
Once the tree enters dormancy, the sap flow slows. This is the only window for Structural Pruning. Focus on 'thinning' rather than 'heading'—removing internal clutter to allow light and air to move through the beautifully chaotic branch architecture and accentuating the tree's natural style.
"We do not grow trees; we manage the environment so the tree can express its own excellence."