DAVIDSON—In a few years the panorama along Railway Street will be much improved thanks to the addition of 10 new trees.

Last Wednesday, Davidson’s Communities in Bloom committee oversaw the planting of 10 Brandon elms. The trees are 10 to 12 feet tall, but with proper care, the fast growing tree should provide the stately shade canopy associated with varieties of the American elm. The Brandon elm is a more compact selection of American elm and is tolerant to most urban situations including air pollutions and salt.

Communities in Bloom used its grant from the Town of Davidson to buy and pay for the planting of the trees. The trees were purchased from Doug Bartel, who runs Copper Lake Trees in Drake. He was in town Wednesday planting the trees with help from Stuart Dougan of Communities in Bloom.

The trees were watered well after they were planted. Communities in Bloom’s summer worker Mark Rettger is tasked with keeping the trees well hydrated to give them a good start.

Given the extreme heat of recent days, all trees need a good drink, particularly because many trees are stressed from last year’s dry conditions.

Bartel advises people to water their trees and shrubs sooner than later. He says trees should receive a heavy watering now so they will have a sufficient drink before they go dormant for the winter.

According to the University of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture and Bioresources, the best way to help trees and shrubs is to:

• Apply mulch around trees and shrubs;
• If a mature tree is drought-stressed, water deeply but infrequently. One inch of water applied every week at the drip line is best. Newly transplanted trees require more frequent watering until they are established.

• Choose drought-resistant trees for dry areas.