Summertime in Virginia comes with hot and, at times, dry weather that can be very stressful for trees. Heat stress and drought conditions can make trees more susceptible to insects and disease problems. Trees have become increasingly important in the face of a changing climate and caring for them strengthens the resilience of communities. Trees provide us with shade, improve our air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and sequester carbon from Earth’s atmosphere.
Young trees that are establishing themselves generally require a minimum of 15 gallons of water each week, and keeping them hydrated is critically important in the first three years after they are planted. Established trees, while typically more resilient than younger trees in hot and dry weather conditions, also benefit from watering. Street trees are especially vulnerable to stress caused by hot and dry weather conditions. If street trees are in proximity to your home, consider giving them a drink during dry weather conditions.
Tips for watering trees:
- Water on a weekly basis, May through October. Watering trees at least once a week, especially on weeks when less than an inch of rain falls, is a good rule of thumb. Trees that are establishing themselves benefit from being watered two to three times a week from May through October.
- Water in the early morning or evening. The best times of day to water trees are early in the morning or in the evening. Watering during these times reduces evaporation.
- Slowly water trees to soak the soil and prevent runoff. Use a garden hose or five gallon bucket with holes drilled into the bottom of it to thoroughly soak the soil around the tree. If a tree has a green Treegator® slow release watering bag attached to it, fill it up on a weekly basis. If a tree is equipped with a TreeDiaper®, ensure it is moist. If it is dehydrated, water it for two minutes a day for a week to recharge it.
- Ensure trees are properly mulched. Mulch helps soil retain moisture by preventing evaporation and reducing weeds. A ring of organic mulch two to three inches deep and located three feet from the trunk of the tree is preferred. Avoid “volcano mulching” by not mulching within three inches of the base of a tree’s trunk.
Tree diapers reduce the need for trees to be watered manually, which can often result in over or under watering. Instead, tree diapers absorb rain water and slowly release it into the soil as it dries.
Join the James River Association’s River Hero Homes program!
River Hero Homes is a community of stewards that realize the first step to a cleaner James River starts at home. Residents of the James River’s 10,000 square-mile watershed take a pledge and commit to adopting a minimum of three of the five following river-friendly conservation actions that reduce stormwater runoff.
- Scoop the poop. Pick up pet waste to prevent bacteria pollution.
- Use native plants. Use regionally native plants and remove invasive plants in gardens and landscapes.
- Reduce herbicide and pesticide use. Reduce or eliminate herbicide and pesticide use to promote a healthy ecosystem.
- Reduce fertilizer use. Reduce or eliminate fertilizer use to reduce nutrient pollution entering our waterways and encourage healthy soil by using compost.
- Conserve water. Reduce household water use and install a rain barrel to harvest rainwater for watering needs if possible.
Click here for more information about River Hero Homes and become a hero for the river today!
River Hero Homes would not be possible without generous support from Altria and DuPont Clear into the Future. Their support allows us to promote conservation and stewardship practices that support a healthy James River.