I’m worried about our trees
The drought in most of Texas is now labeled “exceptional” and Austin is currently under water restrictions that limit homeowners to twice weekly watering schedules. In addition to the drought, we are suffering through unbearable heat with 30+ days of temperatures over 100 degrees.
While the weather is taking its toll on tempers and overall crankiness, it’s also taking its toll on the beautiful and once lush landscape of our city. I have seen many large tree limbs falling and brown spots in large trees all over the city. The drought is beginning to kill the trees that make Austin so lush and what we call our oasis in Texas. Will our climate and landscape change to look like Lubbock?
The Urban Forestry Department with the City of Austin has released a one sheet (PDF) with instructions on how to supplement the watering of your trees to save them from the drought. At our house, we have several large live oaks and pecans that provide ample shade in our yard and house and the thought of losing just one of them is heartbreaking. The lawn and plants we worked so hard to landscape are dying off in spots and we have turned our focus from saving the garden and flowers and shrubs to trying to save the trees. We are keeping a close eye on them.
One thing we are doing is buying 5 gallon buckets, drilling two holes in the bottom and placing them around the drip line of the tree. Once we fill them with water it soaks slowly into the soil and hopefully helps save those trees while not violating our twice weekly watering schedule.
If you have other ideas for saving your trees, let me know!
Comments (1)
Use a slow drip on water hose for the pecans. They have a tap root but if pecan tops die they likely won’t ever recover. Pecan are native near rivers unlike the more upland Live Oaks. Live oaks will drop leaves when drought stressed. I think using a slow drip might qualify as hand watering. Move the location from time to time. Good luck. Half the battle is observing that they’re stressed. You can also save the water that runs out of your shower as you wait for the hot water. Or collect all your shower gray water if you prefer. It’ll be fine for the landscape and the soap residue will discourage the grasshoppers.