Tree care organisations are encouraging communities to do their bit and help newly planted trees survive the increasingly dry summer months.
Young trees need water to survive. According to the Met Office rainfall between January and June 2022 was the lowest since 1976. Established mature trees are able to find their own water. However, it is recommended that newly planted trees are given 50 litres of water per week during the summer months, for the first three years after planting. Around the world there are efforts to plant millions of trees to help tackle the climate crisis, but the health and survival of urban trees is threatened by increasingly dry weather.
You can help ensure healthy trees for the future over the summer months by watering any young trees near you. Planting a tree is just the start of the story and now a coalition of organisations is campaigning to make sure that tree planting efforts don’t go to waste and to ensure that aftercare plans are in place.
More than 1000 tree species are flagged as at risk due to climate change, including city dwelling oaks, maples, poplars and chestnuts. The Arboricultural Association local authority tree officer associations launched a campaign in 2020 to ensure that newly planted trees are watered regularly over the summer months.
Now, the young tree watering campaign is now backed by key organisations from across the environmental sector. Including the Woodland Trust, who are supporting the initiative to highlight the need for essential young tree aftercare; giving the millions of trees planted a better chance of surviving into maturity.
Community watering groups have been set up across the UK utilising the downloadable posters and tree watering tags which can be printed at home and affixed to trees. Local authorities also use them to encourage residents to do what they can to water young trees nearby. The Association has also produced expanded guidance on trees and drought to help establish what you can do when water usage restrictions are introduced. This year tree watering champions can also order free packs of pre printed tags to attach to young trees in need of watering.
Without proper aftercare they will not make it into maturity. Trees are part of the solution, and watering young trees is an investment in the future.
See how you can help young trees survive:
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