The drought in Indiana is having a serious impact on crops... gardens....and lawns... but did you know that trees also suffer?. Tall and stately they stand, seemingly unaffected by the extended dry spell, but some mature trees are dying in Indianapolis. In the state's capital city, volunteers are being sought to be tree-waterers this summer.


Lunsford pruning an old Oak tree

John Lunsford is Grounds Manager for Taltree Arboretum and Gardens, he's also a certified arborist. He says a tree's active roots are only about three to five-feet deep... but the most important roots are probably the absorbing roots, which are even closer to the surface, right around the first twelve inches below ground.


John Lunsford, Certified Arborist and Grounds Manager at Taltree

Lunsford says it's important for trees to get a long drink of water, and one way is to place a hose under the drip-line of a tree, and let it water very slowly for about an hour, looking for about ten gallons of water a week per tree. The drip line is the edge of the tree's crown... where most of the rainwater would drip off and onto the ground.

Taltree Arboretum & Gardens, a 501(c)3 public charity, is located just south of U.S. 30 between Merrillville and Valparaiso, IN. For more information, visit http://www.taltree.org/, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (219) 462-0025

###