Waterwise Tree Care During a Drought

Have the heat waves and drought been rough on your trees? As more water restrictions are implemented, it may be daunting to know how to water outdoors to keep our trees alive. Trees help our homes and communities stay cooler, hold water and soil, and create habitat. It's important to know how to protect them during a drought.

The trick to keeping your trees healthy through a drought is watering efficiently. Here are some quick tips:

Water based on the age of your tree. Younger trees, 1-2 years old, need about 5 gallons once a week. Use a bucket to help you get the right amount instead of the hose.
A tree older than three years will need deeper but less frequent watering. When the top 6 inches of topsoil has dried out, go ahead and water within the drip line. Cheap tip: use a wood chopstick in the ground to assess the moisture of the soil!
Use mulch! Mulch helps retain moisture (and you can get it FREE at the Waterwise Community Center or from a local arborist!)
Limit pruning and fertilizer. Too much pruning can stress your tree. Fertilizer encourages lots of leafy growth which will demand more water. Wait until the rainy season comes to save on water.

Would you like to learn more about how to protect your much-loved trees? Our friends at City Plants have a great collection of videos to watch. You can also read this helpful article shared by the Inland Urban Forest Council and the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District.

Online and In-Person Workshops

OCTOBER 8, 9AM-NOON, IN-PERSON
INSTALLATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF CA NATIVE AND WATERWISE GARDENS
Learn how to properly plant and care for new gardens and plantings, large or small!

OCTOBER 12, 6PM-8:30PM, ONLINE
LANDSCAPE TRANSFORMATION BASICS
Find out about the process and rebates to help transition to a waterwise landscape.

What's New and Things to Dew

Waterwise Garden & Pumpkin Fest - A Great Success!

The Waterwise Garden and Pumpkin Fest, formerly known as the Landscape and Water Conservation Festival, was held last Saturday, October 1st at the Waterwise Community Center in Montclair.

We had over 1,000 attendees come out to enjoy the festivities. Little ones enjoyed free face painting, kids' crafts, a petting zoo and a bounce house! Others received water conservation tips and information from our speakers and exhibitors, and took home drought tolerant plants from our plant sale.

Of course, plenty of pumpkins were available to celebrate the season including some featured in our annual favorite craft, pumpkin succulent centerpieces. Make one for yourself and get in the water saving fall spirit.

CBWCD Poster Contest

With your help, this year's poster contest is sure to stun! Art submissions are open to K-6 students in our service area and every entry is an opportunity to win cash prizes for both the student artist and participating teachers! More details at cbwcd.org/poster

Volunteer with Us!

Learn by doing! We are starting a Community Volunteer program to assist with caring for and expanding our California native plantings in our public park at the Waterwise Community Center. Our first workday will be in January 2023. Sign up for our Community Volunteer email list to receive more information: cbwcd.org/communityvolunteers.

Plant Pick

Pink Fairy Duster

This dainty desert dweller is a colorful addition to well drained, sunny and rocky areas of your garden. The light pink and white flowers and dark green leaves provide important habitat with nectar, seeds and shelter.

At 2-3 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide, this shrub only looks delicate but will withstand the dry summer season and provide blooms from spring to fall. To find out more, visit the Waterwise Garden Planner and add this little fairy to your landscape.

Waterwise Community Center
4594 San Bernardino Street
Montclair, CA 91763
Phone: 909-626-2711
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8am-4:45pm

Visit us: cbwcd.org

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