07-28-88 Agenda & Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• MEMO TO: MARY SAARION, DIRECTOR PARKS, RECREATION AND FORESTRY FROM: RICK WRISKEY, CITY FORESTER • DATE: JUNE 30, 1988 SUBJECT: TREE WATERING DURING DROUGHT CONDITIONS Current drought conditions are mostly affecting trees in those parks that have light and sandy soils and are exposed to direct sunlight and sweeping winds. Those trees most vulnerable are those planted in the last three years. Trees in the other parks (Lambert, Oakwood, Woodcrest, Random, Groveland, Hillview and Ardan) are favored by heavier soils and can last longer without water replenishment. Those trees in stressed areas of Silver View, City Hall and Greenfield Parks get watered every 7 - 10 days using the water van ( 250 gallon) . To ensure that water saturates the root zone of these trees , the hose is left at normal output for at least five minutes per tree. Often, the mulch area around the tree must be churned-up to keep water from just running off. Many trees at Silver View are stressed because of the following : • - Poor planting sites, often hills, knobs, berms, etc. -- in general the "passive areas" that are often exposed. - Normal summers stress trees on this site and in succession ( like 1987) compound current survival efforts. - Curbing and lot construction damaged the root systems of many of the adjacent trees. - "Trial" species like sugar and red ( rubrum) maples were a poor match for the park and its "climate" and soils. It is expected and in some cases planned for that some of these trees will decline and die even with frequent watering. The tight spacings found with trees on some of the marginal growing areas in the park are evidence of this anticipation. We frankly planted, maintained and hoped. It is in areas such as these, ( i. e. amplyitheater hill , sliding hill and level ) that trees even with frequent watering will show wilting and scorching. • Replacement trees, if any, to be planted in these spots will be from a small and selected group of tree species better suited to poor, exposed soils with poor water retention. Variety and desired characteristics (fall coloring, spring blossoming) cannot be considerations when we are dealing with stark tree survival or having nothing in these areas.