Every week, 8-year-old Elliot G. loads up his blue cart with three five-gallon buckets and heads out on his mission to water all the street trees in his immediate community.
“Me and my mom started going on walks where we would bring my tree guide and try to identify all the different kinds of trees,” Elliot said. “And then I was like, ‘Hey, could we help these trees, so then there would be more trees?’”
When Elliot first contacted us in June, we were inspired and overjoyed to see a young person so invested in our city’s urban forest. His story illustrates precisely how small actions can have an outsized impact.
“I love seeing him get so into this project. He wants to do good in the world. And so it’s been nice seeing him starting small and doing good in his own little community,” Elliot’s mom, Walker, said.
When Elliot reached out to us with questions about proper tree watering, we knew other DC residents could benefit from his curiosity. Here’s what we shared:
Elliot: Can you share some ideas on how to transport all the water to the trees?
While some homeowners can simply run a hose to the tree outside their home, transporting water is a different story. Many people fill up five-gallon buckets or smaller watering cans and transport them in a pulled wagon, wheelbarrow, or cart. This works well if you can’t find a nearby hose or water source.
Elliot: How much water should each tree get?
Generally, a tree needs about 10 gallons of water per inch of caliper. Most of the trees that Elliot waters are about 1-2 inches in diameter, so they need roughly 10-20 gallons each week — that’s about two or four buckets when there’s no rain.
Elliot: What can I do when the ground around the tree is really dry and doesn’t soak up all the water?
If the ground is really dry and not absorbing the water well, you can water it just a little at first and wait a few minutes before continuing. Elliot’s perfected method is to give each tree their first gallon or two, then to give them the rest on his walk back home. That way, the tree has more time to absorb the water!
Elliot’s thoughtful approach to tree care isn’t surprising—his love for trees first began after attending a Casey Trees spring break camp. Now, we’re excited to see him branching out and going above and beyond to protect our city’s urban forest.
You’ve probably heard us say this before: Water is the single most crucial factor in the survival of young trees, including street trees.
While DC’s Urban Forestry Division maintains 175,000 street trees, they encourage residents to help water them when possible—giving young trees the support they need to grow into the large, mature shade trees we all love. There’s even an official app where residents can indicate that they’ve watered their street tree.
So, if you’re looking to take on a project in your neighborhood, just ask Elliot — he’s proof that anyone can make a difference, one street at a time!
For more tips on watering trees, visit caseytrees.org/water and sign up for Leaflet newsletter for weekly watering alerts.
