We undertook our first watering round of 2023 on 18 May, four weeks later than last year. This reflects the much wetter Spring we have experienced this year. The rain may have been unwelcome for other reasons but it has certainly given the trees a real boost as they launch their active season.
We have fewer trees to water this year but they are more scattered than last year and even with an almost full team it took some three and a half hours to complete the round. No doubt as we get used to the circuit we shall be able to improve our speed. However, we have now accepted a request from Braintree District Council (BDC) to water some15 trees which BDC planted in Witham over the winter and this will extend each run.
It was noticeable unsurprisingly that the ground was appreciably wetter than this time last year. This was particularly evident in areas where the surrounding grass had not been mowed, since the ground had been sheltered and as a result moisture had been more effectively retained. However, temperatures are rising and little rain is forecast for the next couple of weeks. Any prolonged dry and warm spell will quickly begin to place stress on the trees. Hopefully, we will have more rain and less heat than in the drought of 2022 but we expect to be out watering most weeks between now and the end of September.
We came through last year’s drought remarkably well after it looked as if we might lose many trees. We thought that we had in fact lost only one – a newly planted red acer in Forest Road near the junction with Laburnum Way. Sadly, we have to report that a second red acer was a delayed victim of the extreme weather. We had hoped that it was hanging on and would return in the Spring but it shows no sign of life while the other three acers, including the replacement planted in the winter, are flourishing. So we will need to replace this tree in the next planting season.
With the start of the watering season it feels like Spring has finally arrived. By and large our trees are looking very healthy. Let’s hope we can still say the same when the season ends in four months’ time.
Richard Hawkes
May 2023
