By Celia Carroll Santa Monica
Many of Santa Monica’s trees are feeling the effects of our prolonged drought. The lovely Liquidamber trees along Ocean Park Boulevard and large, older trees along many of my neighborhood streets in Sunset Park are sickly-looking from lack of water. Old, well-established trees are dying or shedding large amounts of dead leaves. As a long-time local gardener, I know that leaf-drop, bare branches and a thin canopy of shade are ways trees try to cope with a water shortage. Losing leaves helps prevent water loss through respiration.
Southern California trees did not get their usual 13 inches of rain last winter — local rain totaled only 3 inches. Even deeply-rooted trees are now too dry.
We can help save the trees which shade our streets and act as natural air-purifiers! I use a root-watering tool available from most garden centers to take a drip of water deep in the ground. I leave it running for 24 hours. The reinvigorated tree is a delight to see afterward!
We “urban foresters" can also locate a trickling hose at the drip line of street trees, on the lawn-side of the sidewalk to prevent placing a hose across the sidewalk. Digging a small, vertical hole to receive the water helps prevent puddling and wasteful runoff. Leave the water on for 12 to 24 hours, taking care the soil does not become over-saturated and begin running onto other areas or into the gutter.
A long, deep drink will last a tree for months until the rains start later this year.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 11, 2007. Read the original PDF.