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A crewmember from Aaron Landscaping secures an ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac between two stakes. By the end of spring, more than 800 trees from 60 varieties will have been planted by the City of Akron.
Photos: Akron Beacon Journal

Akron, Ohio officials are committed to planting numerous trees in the city and they are using rubberized, water-filled doughnuts to water the trees.

The trees planted on city-owned tree lawns or devil strips get watering rings that fit around the trunks to help the young trees survive, said city arborist Bill Hahn.

The ring, that looks like a circular hot-water bottle, can hold 15-20 gallons of water, he said, adding that the ring will release a slow trickle of water to help boost the tree's survival chances, especially during dry conditions.

A 19-gallon water bladder is placed around each tree in the Akron, Ohio tree-planting project. This system allows the trees to be watered over a 5 - 7 timeframe.

Aaron Landscaping of Broadview Heights, Ohio, is doing the work. Approximately $200,000 worth of trees are scheduled to be planted. The city’s contract provides for the initial filling of the water rings, plus two refills by the company. The rings are more attractive than green water tanks or bags that were previously installed with newlyplanted trees, Hahn said.

The trees are guaranteed for one year and must be replaced by the contractor if they die from thirst this year. As a result, it behooves the city and the company to do what they can to keep the trees alive through 2011 and beyond, he said.

Lack of water is a big factor in the death of young trees, with Akron losing as many as 25 percent of newly planted trees in especially dry years, Hahn said.

“Not enough water is an inhibiting factor and we’re just trying to lower [tree] mortality rates by providing an additional water source,” he said.

The city is planting two species of crab apples, the Deborah Norway maple, the Japanese tree lilac and pin oaks, he said. Akron will plant about 900 trees this year on city property along streets, but the city typically loses about 1,600 trees a year, he said.