Landscape trees across the Santa Fe region suffered during the recent multi-year drought, and it's time to help them recover.  Maintaining our urban forest is critical to the region's quality of life because it provides many benefits -- from improving air and water quality to increasing property values and saving energy.  Trees take a long time to grow, and without the proper tree care and maintenance, we risk losing these benefits.

Here are a few ways you can help your trees thrive:

• Water Deeply.  Irrigate mature trees 1 foot deep once or twice a month during the summer.
• Spread It Out.  Irrigate to the edge of the tree canopy; moisten soil a foot deep.
• Take Care.  Trees in areas without sprinklers or that share irrigation zones with grass likely require additional deep irrigation.
• Add Organics.  Spread compost and mulch around trees to decrease evaporation and reduce soil temperatures.

For more information and resources, visit the San Diego Regional Urban Forests Council at http://sdrufc.com/treewatering/