Trees under heat stress: water requirements are increasing - this is how you can actively help!
Find out how vital trees are during heat waves and which irrigation methods ensure their health - an important topic in climate change.

Trees under heat stress: water requirements are increasing - this is how you can actively help!
One look out the window is often enough to recognize the importance of trees in our surroundings. With the hot summers we are increasingly experiencing, strategies for watering these valuable plants are becoming increasingly important. Main Spessart reports that, especially in these times, it is crucial for the health of the trees to systematically ensure their irrigation.
Trees are not only a feast for the eyes, they also help to improve our quality of life. Not only do they capture carbon dioxide, but they also provide us with oxygen and help lower the ambient temperature. But with climate change and more frequent heatwaves, it is becoming increasingly important to give them the attention they deserve. Young and urban trees need special care to avoid drying out or becoming diseased. Loud gruen-ist-leben.de 100 to 150 liters of water per week for young trees is a good guideline to help them through the dry times.
The ecological importance of trees
People's attitudes towards trees vary seasonally. They are often perceived as a nuisance in autumn, while they are very popular as shade providers in summer. Trees play an essential role in ecological balance by tempering the climate and providing us with the shade we need. But to ensure that it stays that way in the future, we have to actively take care of them.
The methods of irrigation are varied. Whether with a hose, a bucket, mulching to retain moisture or using special watering edges - every little measure helps. Even wrapping the tree trunks with bags filled with water can help ensure that the trees receive enough water even in dry times. In cities, where root space is often limited, it is particularly important to respond to the needs of trees.
Collaboration for a better future
The demand for more trees to make our cities livable is not only a personal concern, but is also strengthened by EU legal requirements. In the coming years, urban development will have to be rethought in order to meet the challenges of climate change. The decisive criterion will be the selection of the right tree species. Markus Guhl, General Manager of the Association of German Nurseries, emphasizes that the vitality of the plants is of great importance so that they can function as natural air conditioning systems.
Together, citizens can support by planting the right trees and ensuring they are cared for regularly. The Association of German Tree Nurseries has published a clear list of 65 trees of the future, which is intended to help with plant selection. If you are looking for additional information, you can, for example, find a brochure about suitable trees for climate change gruen-ist-leben.de find.
In summary, it is time to see trees as the vital resource that they are. Especially in times of heat waves, we are required to keep a cool head and take care of the plants that provide us shade and help improve our quality of life.