By John Mickley, Alexandria Beautification Commission
Alexandria, VA – It’s been a hot, dry summer in Alexandria and, like all of us, Alexandria’s trees are thirsty.
“Alexandria’s trees have been under pretty significant stress, not just this year, but from the past couple years together,” says City of Alexandria Urban Forester Scott Graham. “Trees have been impacted – we are seeing many trees take longer to recover from transplant shock. With the increased stress of the weather conditions, young trees are struggling to establish.”
In Virginia, 2026 has been the second driest year on record. Northern Virginia has been under a Moderate Drought Warning, defined by the Department of Environmental Quality as once-in-a-decade lack of rainfall, for most of the year including May, June, and July. “Many days in a row of triple-digit temperatures, with only brief, intense storms late in the afternoon like we’ve been getting recently, makes it difficult for trees to survive,” Graham notes.
Graham encourages residents to water trees on their property slowly and consistently. Dumping a five-gallon bucket of water on the ground every day is not enough and may actually be counter-productive because it can further compact the soil. Instead, the ideal method for tree watering is to leave a hose on a trickle setting for about half an hour near the base of the tree once a week, especially in times of drought. If unable to water with a hose, residents may opt for a Gator Bag or sprinkler, or to try to mimic the hose trickle with a watering can. A good rule of thumb is ten gallons of water per inch of the tree’s diameter per week from the early spring to late fall.
Alexandria residents can request that the City plant trees on public property, including the strip of land between streets and the sidewalk, through Alex311. If the tree is planted near the resident’s property, the City will ask the requesting resident to take responsibility for the watering and provide instructions. The City has been shifting its focus toward planting native trees, which tend to be hardier and better for the ecosystem. Graham encourages residents to plant trees in the fall and winter, which gives the young tree more time to establish itself before the tough summer weather.
The Tree Stewards of Alexandria and Arlington are a great resource for residents who want to learn more about tree preservation. The Tree Stewards are a volunteer organization that plants trees throughout the City and advocates for the protection of the City’s tree canopy. Their website, treestewards.org, has a wealth of information about tree care, including guides for pruning trees and removing ivy. Residents interested in planting a native tree can also find a list of options at plantnovanatives.org/native-tree-choices.
If you decide to plant a tree on your private property, “the most important thing is planting the right tree in the right place,” City Arborist Graham says. In addition to making sure your site and species are correct, Graham urges patience. “It may be two full years before you see much noticeable growth, but with consistent watering, I’ve noticed some trees growing almost 50% bigger just in the third year. It’s important that people know that trees do not operate on the same timelines as us.”
