Bates Area Civic Association

DDOT Reminds Residents to Help Water Trees During Summer Months

Through Tree Keeper Program Residents Can Partner With UFA to Ensure Newly Planted Trees Survive and Thrive

(Washington, D.C.) – The District Department of Transportation’s Urban Forestry Administration is reminding residents to please water trees to help them get through the hot summer.

Water is crucial to a tree’s survival, especially during the summer. Following a regular watering schedule can help a tree to stay healthy.

Tree Watering Tips

· Most trees need about 5 gallons of water per week to grow and function normally.

• · Water trees between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. During this timeframe trees are at their maximum moisture-retaining level.
• · Apply water slowly so that it sinks deeply into the soil. Soaker hoses, drip emitters, bubblers and hand-held hoses are preferable to sprinklers.

Placing organic mulch around a tree trunk helps soil conserve moisture and moderates the temperature of the soil. If the mulch in your tree box has been depleted, re-mulch using 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch. Be sure to keep the mulch about 3 inches away from the tree trunk. Mulch should never be directly up against tree trunks.

District residents can also partner with UFA to ensure that newly planted trees in their neighborhood survive and thrive. Residents who sign up for the Canopy Keepers Program receive a watering bag, trunk protector and bag of mulch, and in exchange they are asked to water and care for a tree in its first two years. For more information about the Canopy Keepers Program please contact UFA at (202) 673-6813.

For additional information on about UFA’s tree care services please visit: http://ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/On+Your+Street/Urban+Forestry.

The mission of the Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) is to establish a full population of street trees in the right of way and to ensure that those street trees are maintained in a healthy and safe condition. UFA has 16 certified arborists on staff maintaining approximately 148,000 trees throughout the city. For more information about UFA visit ddot.dc.gov/trees.