PSA: water trees near your house - receive free watering bag

Recent release from DDOT Urban Forestry calling on residents to water trees in front of their homes and neighboring properties. The city will provide a free watering bag to anyone who agrees to keep it filled, as per below.

Call to Water Street Trees in Summer Heat: Residents Urged to Adopt Street Trees and Receive Free Watering Devices

(Washington, D.C.) In response to the recent heat waves and dry conditions, the District Department of Transportation’s Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) is launching an effort to engage as many residents as possible in watering street trees so they survive this hot summer.

It takes less than 10 minutes a week to fill the free slow-drip watering device provided by the city to any individual who adopts street trees through UFA’s Canopy Keepers program.

“Summer heat and normal urban pressures create intense stress for street trees,” said John Thomas, Chief Forester for the District of Columbia. “While UFA crews are watering all 3,500 new trees we planted this year, we are calling on District residents and businesses to help water street trees close to their homes and offices. Together, we can ensure that these taxpayer-funded assets provide their full environmental, economic, and social benefits for years to come.”

Please contact the Urban Forestry Administration at (202) 671-5133 or visit http://ddot.dc.gov and click on the “Trees” link (or fill out the attached form) to become a Canopy Keeper, receive a free watering device and help street trees survive the summer.