New trees planted in the City of Windsor, June 20, 2022. (Photo by Maureen Revait) New trees planted in the City of Windsor, June 20, 2022. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
Sarnia

Residents urged to keep young trees watered in dry conditions

The owner of DeGroot's Nurseries says some trees are at risk of dying in these dry conditions.

John DeGroot encourages residents to properly water them to keep them alive.

He said big, old trees will be fine and can handle a bit of a drought. He's concerned for the young, freshly planted trees, and those in sandy soil.

"Get the hose and then set it at the base of the plant and leave it there for a half hour to an hour," said DeGroot. "Especially if it's sandy soil, you don't want to over soak them but you do want to do that. I spent Saturday, all day, moving hoses around in my yard. That's the thing, let the water slowly penetrate down so it's good and deep. Once you've done that, you should be ok for two weeks."

DeGroot warns against overwatering trees.

"If you have an automatic watering sprinkling system in your grass and you're getting the trees then by all means do not give them more water," he said. "If you're on heavy clay soil, if you're in Corunna or Wyoming or toward the Sombra way, you have to worry about heavy clay soil and drowning the trees which we don't want to do."

According to Environment Canada, Sarnia received 127.6 millimetres of rain in June of 2021, compared to 48.3 mm last month.

In July 2021, 86 mm of rain fell. So far this month, the area has seen around 22.3 mm.

 

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