Park District begins city-wide tree hydration program

Staff Report

The Rockford Park District began a city-wide tree hydration program Monday, July 23, in an effort to keep the community’s plants and trees thriving during drought conditions.

The Park District is watering during early morning hours when water is less likely to evaporate. Treegator bags, a drop irrigation system, have also been placed on various trees throughout the district to slowly deliver water to the root system over an extended time period.

Two Rockford Park District water trucks are out daily watering 1- to 6-year-old trees and remote landscapes. Two landscape contractors are also assisting the district.

Staff from the Park District’s Atwood Center started making rounds July 23 to Rockford Park District’s Time 2 Play summer playground sites, along with other summer camp sites, to educate area youth about how to hydrate trees. Each participant is decorating two plastic milk containers, which will serve as watering jugs. One container will stay at the park to hydrate park trees, the other will go home so participants can water their own trees.

Make a watering container @Nicholas

Atwood Center staff will help Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens visitors make a watering container from 11 a.m. to noon, Saturday, July 28. @Nicholas is a hands-on program at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. Second St., Rockford, and is free with admission.

Neighborhood groups hydrate the Forest City

The Rockford Park District will provide 5-gallon watering buckets and watering instructions on a first-come, first-served basis to neighborhood groups. Thanks to a grant from Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, Treegator bags (one per group) are also available to pre-registered neighborhood groups. To register for one of the watering systems, call (815) 987-8863.

Educational session provides watering tips

Rockford Park District’s City of Gardens will host a free educational session at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens from 6 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 25. Anyone is welcome to attend. Arborists from the Rockford Park District and City of Rockford will provide information and demonstrate appropriate watering techniques. Representatives from the Community Tree Advocacy Program will also provide information.

From the July 25-31, 2012, issue