Check if it's thirsty | Give it a drink | Protect it from drying out

	The City of Palo Alto and Canopy have planted thousands of new street trees in the last ten years. We provide long-term care, and will answer any questions, but the most important element for a healthy tree is a regular supply of water, and for that we need your help.
Don't let this happen to your tree!

Check if it’s thirsty- Dig roughly 6 inches into the soil on several sides of the rootball to check if water is seeping deep enough to reach the roots. Often soils in urban areas are compacted due the impact from construction. Compacted soil does not allow water to properly infiltrate or drain leaving your soil vulnerable to dry or flooded conditions and it does not contain enough oxygen. Fortunately compacted soils can be adressed. If you suspect that you have compacted soil or if you have trouble penetrating six inches into your soil, hire an arborist to check your soil. Don’t be fooled by your irrigation system, while it does a fine job of watering lawns and bushes, it often dosen’t supply adequate water for trees. Sprinklers mainly irrigate only the top two inches of the soil but as a tree matures it needs to receive water as deep as three feet. Sprinklers can also create surface compaction due to the consistancy of the water droplets hitting the soil surface. Mulching around the tree will help avoid the surface compaction from sprinklers.

	Give it a drink First, build a basin. The basin should be broad enough to let ten gallons of water infiltrate the soil over the entire rootball. Once a week, either fill with 10 gallons of water or, let the hose trickle for several hours. This promotes deep root growth instead of those disrupting surface roots and it will cost you about $1 a month. This information is specifically geared towards ALL young trees that are not yet established. Watering mature trees, especially mature native oaks, is slightly different.
Let this happen to your tree!

Mulch comes in many colors and textures

Protect it from drying out Mulch conserves moisture in two ways; it supresses weeds which compete with your tree for moisture and it protects the soil from the evaporative forces of the wind and sun. Mulch promotes a healthy underground environment for roots by improving soil aeration, returning orgainc matter and soil microbes back to the soil and it protects tree roots from extreme soil temperatures. After a regular supply of water, it’s the cheapest and most effective thing you can do for the overall health of a young tree. Place wood chips, leaves, or pine needles 4-6 inches thick in a 4-foot diameter around the trunk. To protect you tree from damaging fungi avoid placing mulch against the trunk. Click the link to learn about other ways to protect your tree from fungus. Never mulch with stones, plastic, or weed cloth, these create an unhealthy environment for roots.

For complete information on Young Tree Care