Growing drought has left trees at risk of drying out and dying, city says

Journal Staff Sarnia’s Parks and Recreation Department is asking residents to water their trees to prevent them from drying out. A lack of rain has left Sarnia in drought conditions, especially in the north end of the city, which has sandy soil.

Journal Staff

Sarnia’s Parks and Recreation Department is asking residents to water their trees to prevent them from drying out.

A lack of rain has left Sarnia in drought conditions, especially in the north end of the city, which has sandy soil.

The long-range weather forecast shows little of chance of rain for the next two weeks.

Staff is particularly concerned about boulevard trees located on the municipal portion of land between residents’ property and the road, many of which are at risk of survival, the city said today.

The best way to water trees is to let a hose trickle at a slow rate for a longer period of time, about 30 minutes, so it can penetrate to the roots and not run off the hard, dry ground.

“Young, smaller trees – approximately three years and younger – are highly susceptible to drought because of their shallow, undeveloped root systems,” horticulture supervisor Chuck Toth.