RICHMOND, Va. -- A row of newly planted trees line the median along Richmond's Roseneath Road -- and they need water.
“People around here are big on trees,” Richmond Department of Public Works Spokesperson Sharon North said.
As a result, city leaders are urging the public to adopt a tree and refill its water supply since the trees are good for the environment and spruce up the city.
Marc Purintun said he has no problem helping the city maintain his Museum District neighborhood.
“Not sure we can water all the way down the road. But we can water some that are close to the house,” Purintun said.
Additionally, a CBS 6 viewer tipped the station off to a row of what appears to be dead trees and one still living.a directed us to a location on Robinhood Road near the Diamond. We found what appears to be a row of dead trees and one still living.
“These may be trees that were planted last year or that maybe trees that were planted the year before,” North said.
North said trees planted within the last three years are at risk of dying because of the dry summer.
“When there`s insufficient rainfall," said North. “That's when things become critical.”
And despite having city contractors, DPW crews and volunteers, the newly planted trees need 15 gallons of water each week to stay alive.
CBS 6 reporter Sandra Jones asked why the city planted so many trees, if they did not have the resources to take care of them.
"Well, here's the thing. We plant about 2200 trees a year on average and no one can predict the rainfall. In a good year, when we’re getting lots and lots of rainfall, this does not become an issue,” North said.
It would cost the average homeowner 27 cents a month to supply 15 gallons of water to a tree every week, but of course that number will vary based on the cost of your water bill.
Purintun believes that money is well spent.
“I think everybody has a responsibility if you want your neighborhood to be beautiful, to make it beautiful,” said Purintun.
North said the department is investigating the dead trees near the Diamond to find out why they’re in that condition.
If you would like to take part in the Adopt-A-Tree program, call the city at 804-646-0681.
