Arlington officials are keeping a close eye on a large inventory of city maintained trees, particularly those not watered by an irrigation system. The Parks and Recreation Department is utilizing watering trucks and personnel to water these trees by hand.

Property owners are encouraged to do the same. Officials want residents and business owners to not only recognize and check for signs of tree stress, but to know how to care for trees during a drought.

Signs of tree stress can include leaves that are yellow or brown in color, are wilted, or are falling prematurely. Trees showing signs of stress however should not necessarily be mistaken for trees that are dying.

"Just because a tree is showing signs of stress, does not mean it will die," said Urban Forestry & Land Manager Heather Dowell. "Trees have defense mechanisms. If a tree looks like its dying, it just may be going dormant to protect itself. If your tree defoliates and enters early dormancy, you should continue to water the tree even during dormancy."

Tree Care Tips

If a tree exhibits any signs of stress, caretakers should use a hose around the tree at low pressure to water the rootsm - which are mostly located within the top foot of the soil- and move the hose around to ensure deep watering of the roots. It is good to check and make sure the soil is wet several inches below the surface so the tree can absorb the water.

Young trees, one to three years old, require slow, deep root watering once or twice a week. However, mature trees have developed defense mechanisms after experiencing previous drought conditions and can be sufficiently watered once every two weeks, according to Arlington Water Utilities'Conservation Program Coordinator Dustan Compton.

"Just like everything else, you want deep watering," said Compton. "When mandatory water restrictions go into effect June 3, residents will only be able to water lawns twice a week. Since tree watering is, at most, needed twice a week, residents should not run into any problems sufficiently hydrating their trees. Deep and slow-soaking watering techniques are key to training your trees and plants to perform optimally during drought conditions."

Using mulch can also help protect the soil around a tree from drying out. Dowell recommends placing mulch (no more than 2 to 3 inches thick) in a circle around the drip line of the tree, up to 8-12 inches away from the trunk. If it is a young tree, mulch only needs to be placed on the root ball. Avoid placing mulch against the tree trunk and creating a volcano mound, which Dowell says invites a host of problems ranging from pests to tree suffocation.

To find more tips on tree care, visit the Texas Forest Service at http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/popup.aspx?id=13888.