Missoula Asks for Help to Save Drought Stressed Boulevard Trees

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - This hot stretch with temperatures into the 90’s and even the low 100’s is not just tough on people and animals; it’s deadly to Missoula’s boulevard trees, and the city is asking residents for help.

I spoke to Marie DuCharme, City of Missoula Urban Forestry Specialist about what’s happening right now to the city’s hallmark boulevard trees.

The City is Asking Residents With Boulevard Trees to Give Them More Water

“We’re asking residents who have a boulevard tree that may be adjacent to their home to please give it a little bit of extra water with the high temperatures,” began DuCharme. “Also, the winds that we're seeing are really drying out the trees, and we were already seeing a lot of drought stress as it is, and that extra supplemental water will go a long way to keeping everybody a little bit cooler.”

I asked DuCharme how residents with boulevard trees can tell if a tree is drought-stressed.

How to Tell if Your Boulevard Tree is 'Drought-Stressed'

“One of the easiest and quickest ways to tell is just by looking at the leaves in the canopy,” she said. “If they seem to be a little bit droopy, or if they're starting to change color, if they're the edges are starting to turn brown or get crispy, they're definitely showing signs of drought stress. We are asking people to direct the water toward the outer edges of the canopy, because that's where the bulk of the feeder roots are, and then to water slowly and low. Keep the water from going up into the air very high. Try to keep it low to the ground and really let it soak in really well.”

DuCharme said boulevard trees need some extra water throughout the season.

“Our trees really need it throughout the growing season,” she said. “We have really porous soil here, which is great for recharging our aquifer, but not great for holding moisture for plants availability. So anyone who's dug in Missoula soils knows how rocky it is, and that water really does penetrate through very, very quickly. Areas that have higher clay soils do a little bit better, but we also don't get the moisture that these trees need to not even thrive but to survive.”

How to Tell if Your Boulevard Tree is Dying From the Heat

DuCharme said there is a way to tell if your tree has passed the point of no return, and is dying.

READ MORE: Dead and Dying Trees to be Removed on W. Broadway in Missoula

“Trees don't do well once they hit their permanent wilting point, just like any other plant, and once those cells dry out and they can't conduct water, they can't get water out to the rest of the canopy,” she said. “At that point, you really start seeing die back quickly from the top of the tree down and from the tips of the canopy in. Once that happens, trees don't really bounce back from that very easily, if at all.”

Get details on keeping your boulevard trees healthy throughout the summer by calling 406-552-6352.