by Kate Lehman, Bath Tree Board
The Town of Bath Tree Board has planted nearly 60 trees over the past three years with funds provided by a West Virginia Division of Forestry Demonstration City Grant (DCG).
The terms of the grant require that trees be watered at least once a week from June until September unless there has been half an inch of rain or more during that time.
Tree Board members have been busy watering trees the past two years due to record high temperatures, strong winds, and lack of rain.
Rebecca MacLeod devised a clever system to make tree watering as easy as possible.
Recycled two-gallon containers are filled at the spigot by the Depot and then transported in the back of her vehicle to the watering sites. Each tree is given four gallons of water once a week, more when the weather has been especially hot, windy and dry.
While MacLeod was out of town, Tree Board member Kate Lehman estimated that she lifted and carried nearly 634 pounds of water while watering the most recently planted trees in town.
When Councilman Greg Schene observed MacLeod and Lehman watering trees, he offered to take over watering the trees in the rain garden on Congress Street, which is near his home and place of business.
Schene’s offer to water trees is based upon his interest in keeping our town green and beautiful. This aesthetic translates to a healthier and wealthier town.
Countless studies show that in towns with healthy street trees, businesses flourish, people shop longer and spend more money, apartments and office spaces rent more quickly, tenants stay longer, property values increase, and new businesses are attracted to town.
The additional revenue resulting from a good urban tree canopy helps to cover at least some of the expense of town services such as a well-staffed police department.
Inspired by Schene’s offer, the Tree Board is reaching out to other people who would like to water town street trees near where they live, work or worship.
Watering containers will be provided. Contact townofbath@wvdsl.net for more information and to volunteer.
The Tree Board has developed a spreadsheet where volunteers can record when “their” trees have been watered. In addition to providing information on what’s been watered and when, volunteers are credited with volunteer match funds of $27 per hour. Under the 2024 Demonstration City Grant, $11,000 was provided as reimbursement for purchases made; more than that amount was matched, primarily through volunteer hours.
It is important for people all over the county to water their trees as needed. Trees pull water from the ground and release it into the atmosphere as vapor through pores in their leaves in a process called transpiration. This process drives temperatures and rainfall across the globe.
Keeping our trees alive and healthy is one way to fight against high temperatures and draught conditions.
Water trees in dry weather
The West Virginia Division of Forestry recommends that trees should be watered deeply and frequently during their first two years, especially in the summer.
Trees that have been stressed by spongy moths should also be protected by frequent watering. Trees can be watered with a tree gator, a 5-gallon bucket with holes punched in the bottom, or an open-ended garden hose. A young tree should be watered for 8-12 minutes when using a garden hose; it is important that the water goes into the ground rather than running off.
Applying a 3-inch-deep donut of mulch around the base of trees also helps to hold water and keep the soil cooler.
Trees are not only important to the health and wellbeing of the Town of Bath and Morgan County. In fact, without trees there would be no life on this planet.
