How to Water? A Few Simple Steps!
We don’t know if it will be true, but the saying often goes: this summer will be the coolest summer of the remaining summers!
The “We Plant and Nurture!” initiative may have seemed like a charming little wordplay just a few years ago, a gift from Péter Geszti.
Today, we have reached a point where regular, organized watering can truly save lives, as drought has been weighing heavily on trees for weeks, even years.
WATER EVERY WEEK TOO!
Here are a few simple steps on how you can be effective:
1. Decide that you will water every Sunday!
Choose a time of day when you know you will be available and dedicate that 10-20-30 minutes needed for watering.
We recommend Sunday evening, when the sun is no longer shining, allowing most of the water to reach the roots of the trees.
2. Find a few young trees nearby that you can easily reach. You can recognize a young tree by the support stakes that help its growth.
Wherever you live in Hungary, you are likely to find a plant within a few hundred meters that has been yearning for fresh water for days or weeks. Two or three trees are enough; you don’t need more, but take on a little responsibility for them.
3. If the tree doesn’t have a well-defined basin, create one.
Without a basin, the water you bring will flow away, spread out, and not reach the tree’s roots.
4. If possible, bring greywater (rainwater, salt-free cooking water, vegetable washing water).
If you don’t have greywater, prefer public wells and soil taps to avoid conflicts in apartment buildings.
5. Water with the right amount!
A one-liter bottle of mineral water is not enough; it could be a nice gesture, but unfortunately, the small amounts of water often provided can easily lead to the tree drying out, as the life-giving water does not reach its roots. They need more. Plan for 60-70 liters of water, which is 3-4-5 buckets of water for each tree. Water at least once a week, but if you can, repeat it 2-3 times; currently, you cannot overwater.
6. If there is no mulch in the tree’s basin, try to obtain some!
Wood chips, straw, or leaf mulch help retain moisture and shade the soil around the tree to prevent it from overheating.
7. Stay committed!
After the initial enthusiasm of the first week, it’s easy to get tired or distracted. Promise yourself that you will water from now until the end of September!
8. It’s really better to water as a team!
There are lone warriors and team players; if you belong to the latter group, team up with a few acquaintances, neighbors, or family members and do it together. There’s no question that you can be more effective as a team, so 1+1 won’t be two, but three or four! 🙂 Doing it alone is a big commitment, and it’s more fun in a group.
LET’S MOTIVATE EACH OTHER!
If you have a photo of yourself watering a tree, send it to us with some extra info: who is watering and where. We would be happy to publish it – if you agree.
You can send the photo here: 10milliofa@10milliofa.hu Subject: I’m watering a tree
SORRY, I DON’T HAVE TIME… WHAT SHOULD I DO?
HELP WITH YOUR MONEY! – 1.
Use our water collection Lunda subpage, where you can also set up monthly regular donations (- read our watering tips above again).
I GIVE WATER TO TREES – I DONATE FOR IRRIGATION!
HELP WITH YOUR MONEY! – 2. | REPONT
Use Repont and donate the deposit fee to the 10 Million Trees Foundation. Your donation will arrive immediately, and we will use it for irrigation during this dry, warm period.
What do you need to do?
0. Save the QR code below to your phone.
1. Go to a nearby MOHU machine.
2. Place the glass, plastic bottle, or aluminum can in the collection container.
3. When requesting a refund, choose the bank transfer option.
4. Hold the QR code below your phone under the machine’s QR code reader.
HELP WITH YOUR MONEY! – 3.
DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE 10 MILLION TREES FOUNDATION
Our bank account number:
10 Million Trees Foundation | Magnet Bank 16200106-11648804
Note: For irrigation!
🌳💧🌳BACKGROUND 💧🌳💧
The 10 Million Trees Foundation currently irrigates more than 5,000 trees on a weekly basis, including several Miyawaki mini-forests.
Due to the changing climate, young trees previously needed watering for 2 years, which has now increased to 5 years, generating monthly irrigation costs of several million HUF.
If you can, get involved today so that tomorrow we can deliver life-giving water to thirsty trees and seedlings more frequently and to more places.
