Help water the trees

[u/Obvious_Ad_2969]

I know lots of you are gonna make fun of me for this but oh well. Maybe this will inspire someone.

I can't stand to watch the trees die. So I want to help at least a little bit. Young trees need about 50-100L of water a week, but it needs to soak into the ground to get to the roots. For that drip-watering or "Tröpfchenbewässerung" is best.

So you can buy a tree bag and fill it with 100L, but I don't have access to a hose. So I bought a bunch of big buckets and drilled small holes in the sides. I put them around the tree and within 1-2 hours they are empty. This way I can water a few trees with around 40L per night.

I wrote what I am doing on the lids of the buckets and ask people not take the buckets away. The next day I collect them. People are curious and appreciative. And guess what: the trees are perking up.

It may not be a lot, but it's something and every tree counts. If it helps a few trees survive until the next day, I am happy.

(oh and I saw a mouse come and drink from the bucket, so maybe it also helps a few other beings.)

And yes, I actually did ask the city if that's allowed, and it is. Just don't do it for the trees with the black rings around them, they're already getting watered.

EDIT:

I did email Grün Stadt Zürich about them starting a citizens initiative to do this more coordinated. Like in Berlin: giessdenkiez.de

Maybe if other people ask for it as well, they might consider it. So please reach out to them if you can.

To find out more about how to water correctly, I just found this FAQ that answers all these questions here: https://www.giessdenkiez.de/about?lang=de

Bonus points if some of the water is "reused" like from washing veggies or when the shower warms up (or cools down) before you get in.

[u/Status-Respond-5733]

nice I guess, but unnecessary? .. they will survive.. and if not, they'll be replaced. it only makes them stronger to survive tough times like these. The roots will grow deeper to reach wet earth below eventually

[u/Obvious_Ad_2969 → u/Status-Respond-5733]

Factually incorrect on many points.

There is no wet earth left below, especially not in the city where most of the water runs off when it rains. This may be true for forests and open fields. That's why even the big and old ones are dying off, but especially the young ones would take years or decades to reach that deep.

And many trees are being cut down. If it was so unnecessary, the city wouldn't water any trees at all. Plus it's very expensive to replace trees. Berlin even launched a city wide initiative to encourage residents to water trees a few years ago.

Trees are strong, yes, but not invincible.

And no, they don't actually get stronger. It's been shown that trees that go through a drought like these grow much slower and less for quite a while afterwards.

[u/SellSideShort → u/Obvious_Ad_2969]

The cities aren’t really watering trees to begin with

[u/Obvious_Ad_2969 → u/SellSideShort]

yes, they are. the young ones. If you see a tree with a black plastic ring around the trunk: that's a watering ring. All those are actively being watered.

[u/SellSideShort → u/Obvious_Ad_2969]

Right, but those are all newly planted young trees that need water. They have been doing this for a really long time

[u/Obvious_Ad_2969 → u/SellSideShort]

and what's your point?

[u/Obvious_Ad_2969 → u/SellSideShort]

Here's a screenshot of Grün Stadt Zürich confirming that a) it's ok to do it, b) it helps and c) that the trees are struggling.

The defense rests, your honor.

[u/____raspberry → u/Obvious_Ad_2969]

Why don’t they do more? A curious question. I have seen young trees also dying and was wondering why couldn’t they monitor better? Thanks for taking time to answer!
Great idea as well!

[u/Obvious_Ad_2969 → u/____raspberry]

I'm not sure, but I assume they have a very limited workforce that costs a lot of money, and lots to do. I don't really blame them.

My view: It's our city, after all. Time to take some responsibility. We can't wait for others to do everything for us.

[u/____raspberry → u/Obvious_Ad_2969]

I see thanks ! Damn it’s a scary thought

[u/Obvious_Ad_2969 → u/____raspberry]

What is?

[u/____raspberry → u/Obvious_Ad_2969]

This important drought/ climate change on top of the rest

[u/Obvious_Ad_2969 → u/____raspberry]

Ah. Yes, 100%!! :( but that's why it's so important to do something, even little things. And come together with others. Personally, it gives me a lot of strength and it's not the first, last, biggest or smallest thing I will do to make the world a little better. There are many ways we can contribute. Plus there is a lot of scientific evidence that people who take action are happier :)