Help Our Trees!

Please see the message below from the fantastic Trees for Georgetown group!!!

Dear Georgetown Tree Lovers,

We’re hot – and so are our trees!   Unlike people, however, trees can’t move into air conditioning or take a dip in a pool, river or lake.   With average temperatures on the rise, how do trees manage our extreme heat, and how can we help our trees beat the heat?

Trees handle heat stress in their environment just like humans do.  We call it sweating, trees call it transpiration, Too much heat for extended periods can cause excessive transpiration, leading to a loss of water within the tree.  In heat stress situations, trees are losing water faster than they are absorbing it.  Ultimately, that can lead to the death of trees.  Young trees are especially at risk.

We can help trees combat the heat by watering.  Long, deep waterings of 25 gallons a week (1.5 inches of rainfall) each week – or more, in times of extended extreme heat and/or lack of sufficient rainfall.   To water, place a slow hose at the base of the tree for 30 minutes or more, occasionally moving the hose to water the entire root zone.  If you have a gator bag, simply fill with water once or twice a week depending on the size of your gator bag.  Also, applying 2-3 inches of mulch will help reduce evaporation from the soil. Don’t let the mulch touch the trunk of the tree!

To this end, Trees for Georgetown has hired a contractor to water, once a week, all trees newly planted during the 2023-2024 planting season in Georgetown. Watering began on July 8 and will continue until the last week of August.  Ideally, we would like to continue watering until the end of October but, unfortunately, due to lack of funds, we cannot.

Trees for Georgetown is now under the auspices of Casey Trees and is no longer affiliated with the Citizens Association of Georgetown (CAG).  If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to Trees for Georgetown, please make out a check to:

“Casey Trees” and write “Trees for Georgetown” in the memo line.  The check should be sent to: Casey Trees, 3030 12th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017.

If you have any questions, or would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please email us at TreesForGeorgetown@gmail.com or visit us at TreesForGeorgetownDC.org

Thank you for helping to keep Georgetown’s canopy green and thriving!

With best regards,

Trees for Georgetown