Caring for our urban forest

March 25, 2024

Did you know? Lethbridge is home to more than 50,000 public trees! The urban forest is a vital asset of our city. It provides a wide range of important environmental, social and economic services.

A well-managed urban forest conserves more water than it uses. Efficiently watering trees ensures the urban forest will continue to thrive. This is especially important during periods of drought.

Here are some essential tips you can follow:

Water mature trees every three weeks and young trees every 10 days.
Remember to water boulevard trees too!
Water within the entire dripline of the tree (the outermost circumference of the tree's canopy).
Water first thing in the morning.
Ensure the top 12 inches of soil is moist after irrigating.
Consider using a Gator Bag, Tree Diaper or soaker hose to provide slow infiltration of water.
Choose to water trees instead of lawns.
Install a mulch bed around your tree to conserve moisture.
Consider removing landscape fabric from your garden to increase soil moisture.
Replace gravel with mulch for moisture retention.
Add extensions to downspouts so water goes to parts of your yard that need it the most.
Choose drought-tolerant species for future plantings!

Design your irrigation schedule for turf – shallow, frequent watering creates shallow-rooted trees.
Choose to water turf but neglect trees – turf recovers easily, trees do not.
Prune trees or disturb roots during drought – this adds stress during already stressful conditions.
Add landscape fabric or gravel to your garden – choose wood mulch instead.
Oversaturate soils – moist is the goal, not wet.
Water trees with a sprinkler – choose a soaker hose, Gator Bag, Tree Diaper or a trickle from a garden hose.
Water just at the base of the tree – roots extend beyond the dripline.

City Hall
910 4 Avenue South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 0P6

Phone: 311
or 403-320-3111 (if outside of Lethbridge)

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