The Parks Department is asking for help with watering
(ffm) Trees help us endure the heat in the city. They provide soothing shade and even cool the air through the evaporation of water. But after weeks of drought, many of Frankfurt's 200,000 city and park trees now need help themselves. Environment department head Rosemarie Heilig and the parks department are therefore calling on all citizens to donate water to the trees in their own street: "After all, we all want the trees to sprout again next year. Please help them!" The Parks Department itself will once again increase its efforts in watering the trees.
Some facts and notes
1. The ongoing drought is especially endangering younger trees on streets and sidewalks. About 5000 trees that have been standing for less than five years are regularly watered by the Parks Department or by contracted companies. The situation is particularly critical for trees of "primary school age", i.e. six to ten years after planting. Here, the tree disc is also usually still loose enough that you can water properly.
2. Most important principle: Stay on the sidewalks and do not endanger other passers-by yourself. Be careful on busy streets.
3. If possible, use stored rainwater or unpolluted service water. For example, you can collect water used to wash lettuce and fruit.
4. Water really thoroughly once a week rather than a can every day. A young tree can take 150 litres of water, which is about 15 cleaning buckets or watering cans. This corresponds to a cost of only 50 cents.
Even if the really big heat comes to an end for the time being at the weekend and, according to the current status, precipitation is expected, only a limited alleviation of the situation can be expected. There has been too little rain in the winter, so that the groundwater reservoir, which is vital for the trees, has not been filled up. The soils are unable to absorb the majority of the water volumes that are usually collected in a short period of time during heavy summer rainfall events and thunderstorms. Due to the long drought, they are hard and compacted. Most of the water runs directly into the drains and is not available to the trees.
So: help save our city's trees from permanent heat damage! THANK YOU!
