Where and How We Water Street Trees

Filling a street tree’s green "gator" water bag.

We’re often asked about where and how we water the street trees we plant. Below are some answers! 𝗤. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿? We take great care to select tree species that can thrive in our unique climate. In San Francisco, this also means taking into consideration microclimates: trees that do well in the sunny eastern neighborhoods might not fare as well out west towards Ocean Beach. But even the heartiest trees need support when they're young. Right now, our watering work is focused almost exclusively on the west side of San Francisco in the Richmond and Sunset neighborhoods where sandy soil drains more quickly, retains less moisture, and needs more frequent watering. San Francisco Public Works and their community partners water the rest of the trees we've planted in neighborhoods across the city with the exception of 150 trees along 24th Street in the Mission. They are watered in collaboration with Mission Verde, a coalition of community volunteers caring for young trees in their neighborhood. 𝗤. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿? We have two large watering trucks, each with a 750-gallon tank that we fill with water from San Francisco's fire hydrants through an agreement with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Two staff work on each truck, and together they have the capacity to water over 1,000 trees per week. A pump attached to the truck allows us to fill up 20-gallon green "gator" bags. Each bag has small perforations at the bottom to allow for a slow drip release of water, which keeps the soil around the trees moist for many days after they are filled. After three years of care and watering, we consider the trees we've planted to be "established" and capable of surviving the dry summer months without extra watering. 🌳 If you see a young tree in need of care, please report it through our Tree Care Form. Thanks!