Rescue for young trees: This is how they survive the drought!

Rescue for young trees: This is how they survive the drought!

In the heart of Cologne they are an important element of city life: the trees. But since March, many young trees between the ages of 3 and 15 have been fighting the ongoing drought. The roots of these sensitive plants often do not make it to the groundwater. The signs of water shortage are unmistakable - brown leaf edges on linden and maple trees and yellow crowns on beech trees tell of their quiet but serious fight for survival. The situation is critical for many of these trees, which improve air quality and regulate the urban climate. Especially in large cities such as Cologne, Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main, they are at great risk due to the heat and persistent periods of drought, warn experts such as [taz](https://taz.de/Hilfe-gegen-ver Trockende-Jungbaeume/!6096321/).

What does this mean for citizens? Regular watering is essential. Around 100 liters of water per week can make all the difference for young trees. In view of this dramatic situation, the city appeals to the public to actively participate in the casting. But what is the best way to do this? Well, first of all it's important to find access to a digital tree register or watering app. There you can choose the tree you want to support and plan the necessary steps to get the water source - be it via handle pumps or rainwater.

The correct casting technique

A bit of know-how is required when casting. It is important to water slowly and to document the water release well in order to keep an eye on the current water level. If you want to do even more, you can take on an official sponsorship using special apps or collect rainwater in a rain barrel. In fact, fully grown lime trees can evaporate up to 400 liters of water on hot days - a significant amount that shows how important these trees are to the environment. Linden trees make up around 25 percent of street trees in Germany, followed by maples (15%) and oaks (9%) - and these numbers are in constant decline. The number of street trees has been decreasing since 2017 due to extreme weather events.

The Bund Leipzig emphasizes that it is not only the city that offers a basic supply of water for newly planted trees during the first three years of existence. Committed citizens are an important help; they can take action in accessible areas such as streets, parks and gardens. It is important to know that even with occasional rain, watering should be carried out weekly from the end of April to the end of October. Young trees are particularly dependent on support, while older trees can in many cases act as self-sufficiency.

Together for the city trees

Watering can be done easily and efficiently using buckets, watering cans or garden hoses. A tip from experts is to carefully loosen the soil and water close to the trunk. That works wonders. But there is more to consider: water sources are valuable! Rainwater, industrial water or public water pumps can be of great help. Particularly in extreme situations, the city administration will also consider temporary irrigation for trees that are between their 10th and 15th year.

Nowadays it is more important than ever to take responsibility and give our trees a chance to grow healthily. Only together can we secure the valuable green spaces in Cologne and thus make a contribution to the city's climate. It's up to us to take action - because our trees need us now more than ever.