Trees, like humans, need water

In the summer, and even during a rare spring heat wave in Portland, Friends of Trees works to keep its trees alive with watering and pruning. Often this means Senior Neighborhood Trees Specialist Cain Allen is driving around a 425 gallon water tank that looks like an upside down jacuzzi in the back of a Ford pickup truck.

Yesterday, Allen, wearing the baseball cap, and NT Specialist David Odom, visited 13 Rocky Mountain Glow Maples and a pair of Paperbark Maples on Northeast Glisan.

Step 1: Get water

Step 2: Water & prune

Repeat steps.

Depending on when the rainy season comes, Allen said his watering time frame is usually May to October.

“We had a hot spell during the spring and some of the trees got fried,” said Allen.  “It’s just some of the leaves got toasted a little, but it’ll be fine.”

Fine, that is, thanks to FOT staffers and one Ford F-350.

–TS