Help Struggling Trees in Summer
Why are trees in trouble?
With climate change causing less rainfall and hotter temperatures and long-term drought, many of our area trees are struggling during our summer drought. Trees may go into decline and die.
How can you help?
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Take note of drought-stressed trees that are in trouble. Report them to our "hotline".
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Be a Summer Tree Inspector. Make a regular visit to an area to check on the trees.
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Be a Tree Watering Hero. Adopt one special tree — or a route of trees. Give them a deep watering at least once in July and once in August to give them a little relief.
As an added bonus, spending time with trees has been shown to have positive effects on your well-being. Look after the trees, and they'll look after you. 'Water' you waiting for? Sign up now!
How to Help Struggling Trees
Learn More About
Trees in Drought
Our region is in the worst megadrought on record. A megadrought is a period of extreme dryness that lasts for decades. Although there have been individual years of wet conditions over the past two decades, on average conditions have been drier than any other 22-year period in the past thousand years.
Learn more about how drought affects trees and what measures we can take to make trees more drought-tolerant in this publication.
Report Struggling
Trees
Take note of drought-stressed trees that are in trouble. Key signs to watch for are:
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Wilting or drooping leaves, especially during the hottest parts of the day.
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Yellow or growing of leaves, particularly around the edges and between veins.
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Trees that are shedding leaves earlier than usual to conserve water.
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Dying branches, starting from the top of the tree's canopy.
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Trees that have become more vulnerable to pests and diseases, perhaps as they are weakened by drought.
See a tree exhibiting these signs? Please report it on our Struggling Trees "hotline"!
Be a Summer Tree Inspector
Do you have an area where you would like to regularly check trees? It might be at a local park, a school near you, your street, or your HOA. Or inspect trees that have been reported to our Struggling Trees Hotline.
You will be examining your tree to assess its site condition, and signs of the trees's health, and report the results on a data collection form. We'll be happy to help with training, permissions, and a checklist.
Be a Tree Watering
Hero
Are you interested in being a Tree Watering Hero? Young trees need 5-7 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter each week, but even mature trees can use a helping hand with water. The best way to do that is with deep, infrequent watering. Tree Watering Champions make a commitment to water their adopted trees with a least one good soaking in both July and August, but you may choose to increase watering during periods of high temperatures.
Do you have a special tree or a route of trees in mind? Tell us more about where that might be. Or, we'll be happy to match you up with trees we know could use your help.