Save Our Water Partners with Urban Forest Groups to Highlight Importance of Tree Care This Summer

As Californians curb outdoor water use, paying extra attention to trees is vital to preserving our urban tree canopy. With millions of urban trees in need of extra care due to extreme drought, Save Our Water is partnering with California ReLeaf and urban forest groups across the state to bring awareness to the importance of tree care while cutting back on our outdoor water use.

The partnership, which includes the USDA Forest Service, CAL FIRE’s Urban & Community Forestry Department as well as local groups, highlights how to properly water and care for trees so that they not only survive the drought, but thrive to provide shade, beauty and habitat, clean the air and water, and make our cities and towns healthier for decades to come.

“With Californians cutting back on their outdoor water use and irrigation this summer to help protect our water supplies, it is critical that we continue to properly care for our trees,” said Cindy Blain, Executive Director of California ReLeaf. “Our urban forest canopy is important for our environmental and community health so we must do what we can to save our water and our trees.”

Trees in irrigated landscapes become dependent on regular watering and when watering is reduced –especially when it’s stopped completely – trees can become stressed and die. Tree loss is a very costly problem, not only in expensive tree removal, but in the loss of all the benefits trees provide: cooling and cleaning the air and water, shading homes, walkways and recreation areas, and protecting public health.

“As Californians cut back on outdoor water use, remembering to put extra care into trees will ensure our urban forests remain strong throughout this extreme drought,” said Walter Passmore, State Urban Forester for CAL FIRE. “Saving water this summer is imperative, and we must be smart about when and how we use this precious resource. Keeping established trees alive using drought-smart tree care guidelines should be part of everyone’s water budget.”