FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact: Jared Powell
Director, Communications
D 202.349.1894
M 202.680.3553
F 202.833.4092
E jpowell@caseytrees.org

District’s trees stressed, need help being watered
Casey Trees urges residents to water trees 25 gallons per week

(Washington, DC – 08 July 2010) – Record setting temperatures and below average precipitation are stressing the District’s trees. Residents are urged to water trees on and surrounding their property during the current dry spell. Trees that do not receive the necessary amount of water can develop drought stress or die.

Helpful tree watering tips and guidelines:

Remember 25 to Stay Alive. Trees needs 25 gallons of water – equal to 1.5 inches of rainfall – each week to survive. When less than 1.5 inches of rain falls, residents should water their trees.

Track rainfall totals at home to know when to water. DC residents who make the 25 to Stay Alive pledge will receive a complimentary rain gauge to help them monitor rainfall totals. Find the pledge at www.caseytrees.org/iwatermytrees .

Follow Casey Trees’ online Tree Watering Guide. Each Monday, Casey Trees issues a watering recommendation on its website’s main page, Facebook account and Twitter feed.

Install slow-release watering bags. Watering bags ensure the tree receives the correct amount of water, shortens watering time and reduces water runoff. Free Ooze Tubes are available for pickup at Casey Trees’ downtown office during normal business hours.

Make a slow-release watering device. Add holes to the bottom of a bucket and place at the base of a tree. Fill, then walk away.

Get creative in transporting water. Connect multiple hoses and use buckets and old water cooler jugs to get water to trees. Lighten the weight of buckets and jugs by moving them in a wheelbarrow or wagon.

Turn your hose on low for a half hour. Stay or walk away, just remember to turn off the water after 30 minutes.

Mulch. Mulching helps to keep soil moist and discourages summer weeds. Apply using the 3-3-3 Rule - 3 inches of mulch in a 3 foot ring with a 3 inch space around the trunk.

Additional tree care tips can be found at www.caseytrees.org/treeplanting.

###

About Casey Trees:

Casey Trees is a Washington, DC-based not-for-profit, established in 2001, dedicated to restoring, enhancing and protecting the tree canopy of the Nation’s Capital. For more information, visit http://www.caseytrees.org/.
 
To submit an article or to inquire about advertising options send an email to Advoc8te@congressheightsontherise.com