Maples planted along the street near 2nd Av SW in West Downtown Rochester,MN August 20th 2011

This is a post reminder people in Southeast Minnesota to water street trees along with ones in their yards. Cities across Southeastern Minnesota plant trees along the sides of streets to beautify roadways and residential areas, this is true in our small communities and large ones throughout the area. Most of the time the city or community plants these trees and they are cared for a month or two then they are left on their own, often the home owner closest to the tree takes on care of the tree, because the tree doesn’t benefit anyone more then the home their planted in front of, as they add shade, value to the home, and they really help break down all the buildings and houses of a city setting. Watering trees small or large is especially important for street trees because where they are planted there is a lot of concrete near the root system, making for even less free soil for the roots to reach water. This can cause trees to need even more water then trees planted in the country, or areas with more grass. Heading closer to the fall season is even more of a reason to keep trees watered, Trees need regular moisture to provide best fall color and for their health as we get closer to Winter.

Image from U.S Drought Monitor

It is quite dry here in Southeastern Minnesota, and everything could use a good soaking rain, I have seen lots of brown grass and wilting boulevard gardens in Rochester and around our yard. This is especially true along streets and industrial fields, where the sun has been baking the ground the past week. The U.S drought monitor has parts of the 7 county area in slight drought including most of Fillmore County and far southern Winona County. If these dry conditions continue, I would not be surprised if the slight drought was expand across more of the area. This is even more of a reason to keep street trees watered.