The Drought, Our Trees, The Air We Breath! – How to Keep our Trees Health While Conserving Water

 

Trees are essential to our very existence. Their power alone manifests as the air we breathe - so let's not take them for granted!  Now that we're being asked to limit landscape watering, our good sense and the DWP is reminding us that we must still water our trees. 

 

Our trees provide shade that lowers our soaring temperatures, they convert CO2 to oxygen, help lower our energy costs and they clean the air of unhealthy pollutants. 

So, give your trees, especially the parkway trees, a regular (twice a month), good, deep soaking!   Consider using a deep root watering tool! There are many easy to use deep root watering tools on the market. i.e  https://yardbutler.com/products/deep-root-irrigator

 

Does deep root watering really work? Yes!  Not only is deep root watering trees the best way to get your trees quenched and thriving, but using the right deep root watering system is the most efficient way to do it. It's also great for the environment because you'll be using less water!  Here’s some other ways to help keep our trees alive and save water:

 

-        Add a layer of mulch around trees.  This limits evaporation and lowers the soil temperature.  The City of LA provides residents with free mulch:  https://www.lacitysan.org/freemulch

-        Use a hose with a self-closing shutoff nozzle and slowly water the root zone of your mature tree.

-        Try using a soaker hose around the base of the tree.

-        Most mature trees need deep watering once or twice a month, depending on the type of tree.  Deep watering promotes deep root growth.

 

Learn how to efficiently water your trees and mulch to retain moisture from this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiHmGdUP8hQ&t=139s

 

You can also use waste water:

 

-        Collect shower water while waiting for hot water

-        Collect water used to wash produce

-        Recycle aquarium water that isn’t saltwater

-        Reuse the melted ice water from a cooler

-        Reuse leftover water from your pet’s water bowl

 

Remember, we’re all volunteers!  Come to a Zoom meeting; join a Committee!