Minnesota’s dry summer weather is putting stress on residential trees, and the DNR is encouraging homeowners to give them some extra water. The agency says newly planted trees need about 15 to 25 gallons of water once a week for their first three to five years, unless they’ve received at least an inch of rain.

For mature trees, the DNR recommends watering beneath the entire canopy, away from the trunk, until the top six inches of soil are moist. Officials say watering in the early morning or late evening can reduce evaporation, and mulch can help trees retain moisture. More information on tree care and watering is available at MNDNR.gov/treecare.