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How to Care for Trees

How to Care for Trees

Stage III of the Sustainable Water Use Ordinance is now in effect, allowing outdoor watering one day a week (Saturdays) before 9 am or after 6 pm, up to 15 minutes per irrigation station. As the drought continues, we are making every effort to conserve our water supply by minimizing the use of potable water for outdoor irrigation.  Learn more

We thank our community for taking big steps to use water responsibly.  

As we continue to prioritize our water use, it is important to remember one of our greatest assets: trees.  

Trees provide countless benefits to communities and are a long term investment.  A new lawn can be installed in a weekend, but a mature tree takes at least 50 years to grow.  Drought stressed trees are more vulnerable to disease, insect infestations and branch dieback.  

Protect your trees by following these 3 simple tips for watering trees:

CHECK.
How do you know if your tree needs to be watered?

Check!

Use a screwdriver or other tool and gently push it 6-8 inches into the ground. If the soil is dry and crumbly, it may be time to water again.

How often will you need to water?

Every tree is different, but generally young trees will need watering 1-3 times a week (depending on the temperature) and mature trees will need watering 1-2 times each month.
WATER.
When watering your tree, think low and slow. Water at ground level to avoid losing water to evaporation.

Use a watering tool with a slow, steady release to make sure water soaks into the ground.

The goal is to get the water to the roots, which are typically 12-18 inches below the ground.

Don’t forget to limit your watering times to before 9:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m.
MULCH.
Mulch keeps moisture in the soil and protects your tree’s roots from extreme heat.

Simply layer about 4 inches of mulch on the ground surrounding your tree, making sure to leave about 6 inches of empty space between the trunk of the tree and where the mulch begins.

Did you know that the City of Burbank has a FREE mulch program? Take a look and find a convenient pick-up location.

For more information, contact: (818) 238-5300.