Because most young trees in D.C. do not get enough water to establish themselves during their first three years of life, they often die and have to be removed and replanted at taxpayer (your) expense. Big, well-established trees need watering too, especially during D.C.'s famous hot summers. TreeKeepers are crucial to making sure that D.C.'s trees get enough water to survive.

If it hasn't rained, new and young trees need you to give them at least 20 gallons of water per week to thrive. Older trees could use watering each week too. There are a couple of easy ways you can do this:

1. Leave a garden hose next to the trunk of your tree and turn it on so low that the water just trickles out a tiny bit. Leave the hose on for one hour per week.
2. Get a 5-gallon bucket (the kind used by carpenters and restaurants) and a piece of duct or electrical tape. Using a sharp nail or tool, poke 5 holes next to each other on the side of the bucket, one inch up from the bottom. Cover the holes with the duct tape and fill the bucket with water.
   
   Set the bucket next to your tree trunk with the duct tape facing the tree. Remove the tape and allow the water to slowly flow out of the bucket into the soil. The bucket only holds 5 gallons (or less) of water, so you will need to fill it at least 4 times to give the tree 20 gallons of water.
3. The easiest way to water your tree is to buy a TreeGator® and zip it up around your young tree. If you become a D.C. TreeKeeper, you get one FREE!