25 to Stay Alive
About
25 to Stay Alive is an easy way to remember how much water your trees need to survive and thrive.
Trees, especially those that have been in the ground less than three years, require 25 gallons of water - approximately 1.5 inches of rainfall - per week to grow healthy and strong. In times of little or no rainfall, and especially during the hot summer months, trees need your help in getting the 25 gallons of water per week.
Watering trees on and surrounding your property is a small investment with a high return. Healthy trees provide cooling shade, help lower utility bills, increase property values, make neighborhoods more livable, and are less likely to fall on your house or car during a storm.
Tree Watering Guide
From now until October, Casey Trees will issue weekly tree watering recommendations for District residents on our welcome page and Facebook and Twitter accounts. Precipitation and streamflow data determine the overall condition - Dry, Normal or Wet - and the associated watering recommendation - Time to Water, Additional Watering Optional or No Additional Watering Needed respectively. Recommendations are posted on Mondays.
Follow the Tree Watering Guide using these symbols:
Learn this week's condition and watering recommendation.
Pledge to water your trees and receive a complimentary rain gauge to help you track rainfall totals at home.
How to Properly Water Trees
Watering trees is easy and requires little time. It is even easier, faster and more effective when done properly and using a few tricks of the trade.
Trees need to be watered slowly. This prevents wasteful runoff and allows for the soil and roots to absorb the water. You can do this multiple ways.
- Add mulch - shredded bark or leaf compost works best. Apply using the 3-3-3 Rule - 3 inches of mulch in a 3 foot ring with a 3 inch space around the tree trunk.
- Turn a hose on low for 1/2 hour.
- Place a 5-gallon bucket with holes in the bottom at the base of your tree. Fill the bucket up 5 days a week.
- Add a 25-gallon Ooze Tube or Gator Bag to the base of your tree. Fill it up just once a week.
Ooze Tubes and Gator Bags are inexpensive and can be purchased from most nursery, hardware, and home improvement stores. Each takes less than five minutes to install. District residents may pick up complimentary Ooze Tube bags from Casey Trees during normal business hours.
Tree Care and Planting Resources
- 25 to Stay Alive
- Basic Tree Care
- How to Install and Use an Ooze Tube (video)
- Planting a Tree
- Tree Species: A Short List
- Other resources
