| The Arboricultural Association is stepping up its Young Tree Watering Campaign during the current heatwave, highlighting that planting trees is only the first step in creating greener, healthier communities. Without proper aftercare and establishment, many newly planted trees will fail before they ever reach maturity. Research suggests that around 30% of newly planted street trees die within their first years, often due to lack of watering and aftercare during dry weather. Young trees are particularly vulnerable during periods of heat and drought, and with climate change bringing more frequent extremes, supporting tree establishment has never been more important. The Association is encouraging residents, community groups and local authorities to work together to help young trees thrive by watering trees near them throughout the summer months. Since launching in 2020, the campaign has distributed more than 20,000 tree watering tags, including thousands of free packs for community groups, schools and volunteers across the UK. The tags act as a simple reminder for residents to help care for newly planted trees in their neighbourhoods. It is recommended that newly planted trees receive around 50 litres of water per week during dry summer weather during their first three years after planting. |
Supporters across the UK have already joined the campaign using free downloadable posters, tags and resources to encourage local action. Watering tags have also been translated into five different languages to help engage more communities.
The campaign has gained support from organisations including the Woodland Trust, reinforcing the message that successful tree planting is about long-term establishment and care - not simply putting trees in the ground.
As governments, organisations and communities invest in large-scale tree planting to help tackle climate change, experts warn that survival rates matter just as much as planting numbers. Trees that fail in their first few years cannot deliver the cooling, biodiversity, air quality and wellbeing benefits communities need.
Everyone can play a part in helping young trees survive and thrive into the future.
To learn more, download free resources or get involved, visit: https://trees.org.uk/watering
