City encourages residents to support street tree watering efforts
In response to the warmer weather, the City of Surrey is launching a campaign asking residents to help water trees along their streets this summer.
Surrey, B.C. – In response to the warmer weather, the City of Surrey is launching a campaign asking residents to help water trees along their streets this summer. With 86,000 street trees within the city, additional water is crucial to their survival. While City staff are focussed on watering newly planted trees, residents are kindly requested to lend a hand in watering the older trees along their streets.
The best way to water an older tree is at the tree’s drip line—the area on the ground beneath the outer edges of the tree’s branches. Trees require a slow watering method to allow their roots to adequately absorb water. Residents can assist in this effort by using a soaker hose coiled around the drip line, or by using a large bucket with small holes drilled in the bottom. This method involves filling the bucket with water, placing it at the drip line, allowing the water drain gradually, and then repeating in multiple spots around the tree’s drip line. Ideally, trees should be watered twice a week.
Caring for trees is vital for a thriving and healthy community. They play an important role in improving air and water quality, providing wildlife habitat, preventing soil erosion, and reducing the impact of stormwater flooding. Additionally, trees contribute to mitigating the urban heat island effect by cooling air and providing shade in urban areas. The tree watering program is one of the ways the City of Surrey helps take care of the urban forest.
The City of Surrey has free tree watering buckets with pre-drilled holes in the bottom available for interested residents. To request a free bucket for watering older street trees, call 604-501-5050.
For more information on how to keep trees healthy visit surrey.ca/trees.