In cities in particular, plants such as trees, bushes and shrubs are currently suffering from the high temperatures. The Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) and other environmental protection organizations therefore recommend equipping yourself with a watering can, especially on hot days, and helping the environment with an extra portion of water .
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What makes trees in the city so important – and why we should water them
Urban plants have no opportunity to replenish their water reserves without rain. But this is important so that they continue to provide shade and filter and cool the air.
It was already extremely hot in the summer of 2018 and 2019, so that the groundwater reserves were almost exhausted . Despite thunderstorms and regular rain showers, the water did not reach the trees because it did not seep deep enough through the dry soil layers. Young trees in particular suffer, but also trees with deep roots. Likewise, many concrete urban areas do not make it easy for the trees. The water usually flows directly into the sewage system and therefore does not reach the plants.
Watering city trees properly
- Moisten the hard, dry soil around the trunk so that the water does not run off immediately. You can also carefully loosen the soil with a hoe.
- Depending on its size, a tree needs between 9 and 14 liters of water per day . So if you water a tree with 50 liters once a week, that’s enough to get through the heat wave.
- Use water, e.g. B. from the rain barrel or tap water. 50 liters cost just ten cents .
- It is best to water the tree in the morning or late evening. Then the temperatures are even lower and less water evaporates.