Officials ask Cedar Rapids resident to water trees due to dry weather

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – City officials ask residents to water trees planted along streets in Cedar Rapids due to continued dry weather.

The city has planted more than 230 young trees in the past weeks which are susceptible to dry weather. They need up to 10 gallons of water per week to stay alive.

A guidance for watering newly planted trees has been released by the city:

“If a street tree has a green water bag on it, it can be filled by placing a hose in the smaller opening at the top of the bag. If water comes out of the bottom, the hose is not in the correct hole. Trees without watering bags can be watered by taking a five-gallon bucket, drilling a 1/8 inch hole at the bottom, and very loosely tying the bucket to the white tree guard or the base of the tree. Place the bucket so the hole is facing the trunk and fill it with water one to two times a week. The City also recommends spreading a layer of mulch under the tree canopy but one inch from the trunk of the tree.”