Trees

We are having a severe lack of rain here in Alabama. The entire state is under a fire watch.

We have had to start carrying water to the trees we planted last fall. The maples are looking the worst - their leaves are actually dry to the touch. The pear trees are droopy, but not actually dry to the touch.

We have enough hose that we can reach 6 trees directly from the outside faucet on our house. We are heavily watering these 6 trees by turning the water on at just a drip so we know it soaks into the ground. The clay that is here is very difficult for watering purposes - the water runs off before it soaks in.

We will be very disappointed if the other trees do not live. We intentionally planted them in the fall and watered them after planting, thinking that they would need little care this year. We are very happy that we made the decision to wait until this fall to plant more. We had considered buying some this spring.

We have also had some valdalism on trees. One tree was pulled out of the ground and broken in half. Luckily, two of the residents saw who did it and told us...we can handle it if we know who is creating the problem! A couple of the others have had all the branches broken off by kids. We don't know which kids are responsible. This problem is lack of respect for property - their own or other people's!

So, we would do a rain dance if it would help, but I am sure the residents would just think we are crazier than I am sure they think we are now....after all, we want them to put trash in garbage cans instead of on the ground, etc! We ARE moving forward, but it is baby steps.

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