The council’s Trees team would welcome your help. Although we’ve just had a bit of welcome rain, more periods of hot, dry weather are to be expected over the summer. They are encouraging residents to help keep their streets’ trees watered. Full information is set out below.
Advice from Lambeth’s tree experts on when, how much, and where to water trees in the current hot weather.
Help save the lives of Lambeth’s trees
During this hot spell, shade from trees is vital to helping us cool down. But the trees that give us shade can’t get out of the sun. Some are literally dying for a drink. Lambeth Council is rolling out extra watering for the borough’s precious trees to help them survive an extended spell of hot, dry weather – and is also asking residents to help out.
When, where, what and how we water
Lambeth Council has planted hundreds of new trees on streets. Even when rain soaks our streets, it doesn’t give trees a drink – it runs into drains. We need people to give something back to the trees that protect our environment – just water, just twice a week. Take a bucket of water – or two big jugs - and slowly give your nearest tree’s roots a slow drink. Trees are (as you might expect) environmentally friendly and love recycled water – from a shower, bath or washing up.
Lambeth’s Tree Team, who care for hundreds of trees, advise:
Ideally, a tree needs 50 litres (just under 3 bucketfuls) a week – or as much or as little as can be managed for young trees.
Water mature trees only if they look like they’re suffering with the drought, e.g. leaves recently wilting or turning brown.
Water when it’s cooler - early morning or evening.
Some young trees have a watering pipe, pour half the water down that and the other half onto the tree.
Some have a watering bag – just lift the flap and fill it up. Check the water is slowly percolating out over a few hours.
Water the ground around the base of trees slowly so that the water is absorbed rather than running off.
Where possible, use saved rainwater or ‘grey water’ from the shower, bath, paddling pools or even washing up. You can use grey water even during a hose pipe ban.
Share watering
If you share a tree with a neighbour, you can take it in turns, and both water your tree once a week. Try using your street’s WhatsApp or Facebook group to set up a rota to get trees in the street watered when there’s no rain.
More information
Download the London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) publication:Sustainable water management (ltoa.org.uk)
RHS advice about using grey water
