The City of Waukesha Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department is asking citizens to help maintain street trees during the current drought conditions throughout Southeast Wisconsin.
All trees, both large and small, are being stressed by a lack of moisture. This includes the street tree in front of your home. Trees and plant material in general, become much more vulnerable to insects and disease when they lack adequate water.
How you can help trees survive
• Place a garden hose underneath the crown of the tree near the trunk.
• Set the hose to a slow trickle, water 25 minutes for large trees and 15 minutes for smaller trees.
• Move the hose three or four times during watering.
• Or use a 5-gallon bucket and dump two buckets on small trees 2- to 4-inches in diameter and four to five buckets of water on larger trees.
• Repeat this process every seven to 10 days until there is adequate rain.
• Use a shredded bark or woodchip mulch around your tree. Mulch reduces evaporation and improves water absorption.
• Trees near construction zones may require more watering.
• Older, bigger yard trees can also suffer from moisture stress. Water a larger tree with a sprinkler during the evening or early morning to reduce evaporation. When a coffee can has 1” of water, turn off the sprinkler.
Because trees provide many economic, environmental, social and aesthetic benefits, it’s important to keep them healthy. Remember to follow all local watering restrictions which limit watering on odd numbered addresses to Tuesdays and Saturdays and even numbered addresses to Thursdays and Sundays. Water prior to 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m.