Keeping yard trees healthy during drought

Japanese maple growing in a California yard

photo: Earth Friendly Landscapes

So, you’ve decided to join many other Californians trying to save water by letting your lawn die.  You may have plans to put in drought tolerant landscaping, or just let the lawn sit until the (ahem) rainy season.

Whatever you do, don’t forget the trees!  Many yard trees that got regular watering from lawn sprinklers still need some water during the drought.

Loren Oki, UC Cooperative Extension landscape horticulture specialist at UC Davis says it’s ok to cut back,  just don’t do it all at once:

audio transcript

And Oki says there’s a right way and a wrong way to water a tree:

audio transcript

More watering tips:

California Center for Urban Horticulture at UC Davis

The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden

Sacramento Tree Foundation