Consider Watering Your Street Trees

I have a dorky habit to confess. Whenever my to-go iced coffee is finished, I dump the ice from my reusable cup into the dirt of a street tree. It’s probably like half a cup of water, and I am sure it doesn’t make a difference, but I can’t not do it.

I mention this in light of news from the United Kingdom about a campaign to rally the public to water new street trees.

While this specific campaign—which is a collaboration between the Arboricultural Association and the Woodland Trust—is addressing trees in the UK, it’s an action that can be done everywhere there are street trees in need.

The UK Government has committed to planting millions of trees to help meet climate and nature targets and aims to increase tree cover in England from 14.5% to 16.5% by 2050. Likewise, cities across the United States have similar tree-planting goals.

Alas, rising temperatures, droughts, and dry spells lead to an increasing loss of new street trees.

As John Parker, chief executive of the Arboricultural Association, says:

“Planting a tree is just the start of the story. The health and survival of new urban trees is threatened by increasingly dry weather.  It is recommended that newly planted trees are given 50 litres [13 gallons] of water per week during the summer months, for the first three years. You can help ensure healthy trees for the future over the summer months by watering trees near you.”

As echoed by the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), probably the biggest problem street trees face, especially young trees, is drought. “Trees need 8 to 10 gallons of water a week to stay healthy, with young trees benefiting from 10 to 20 gallons while they are getting established. You can help keep street trees alive during dry periods by watering