What Trees Dream About
By Leo Romero, from Dream of Water

Trees dream of water
They dream of oceans full of water
They wake up childre in the middle of the night
and make them thirsty

In their dreams
trees uproot themselves
They flee from people
and become fish

Fishermen come after them 
with enormous nets
Just as the trees wake up

Now is the time to soak your trees

My celebration was years in coming. Walking my dog out on Pinto Canyon Road, as I do most mornings, it happened, a dung beetle took advantage of my dog’s poop and took off with the slightly misshapen ball struggling across the rough road surface while I stood in amazement and contemplated giving it a lift. Dr. Bonnie Warnock of Sul Ross, another fan of dung beetles, told me the beetles can and do use dog poop as well as cattle dung for their supply, however the pesticide in flea and tick treatments actually kills the dung beetles, (as does some common medicines for cattle). However, since I don’t use those chemicals on my dog this dung beetle was in luck. Why am I celebrating so heartily? I haven’t seen but a handful of beetles over the past few years. When I look up from the pavement the sad fact that this really isn’t a cause for celebration is right in front of me. There are no cattle in sight. The drought has curtailed the size of herds and even the ability to provide for cattle out here. They are missing from the landscape and my dog serves as a consolation prize for the dung beetles.

The drought affects each and every species. No red velvet bugs this year, only two tarantulas, two horny toads, one tiny one that was run over this morning, no badgers, three rattlesnakes, no tiny frogs after the rain, no turtles.

The recent rains have brought the sweet scent of wildflowers back, however no butterflies, only tarantula hawks in noticeable numbers. Amidst my tally of what’s missing I get a heads up from Jim Martinez, local landscape, plant and soil expert that the trees in Marfa are in serious peril. Our trees need water too. A long, sustained water soak, not a brief shower. We take a drive. The urgency in his voice is not unfounded. Look up; you’ll get a new perspective on how the trees of Marfa are suffering.

Many factors contribute to the present need for attention and care for the trees. We are not watering enough to offset the lack of rain due to the drought. Instead of normal yearly rainfall of 12-16 inches we only got 3 inches last year. Also, with around 200 short-term rentals in Marfa, those trees often aren’t getting the additional water they need. Driving around Marfa it’s obvious the stress our trees are experiencing, and also how many are already dead or dying. Some that appear to be dead may come back with serious water triage, however time is of the essence and for some reason people seem oblivious or uninterested. The community needs to come together to educate and encourage our friends, neighbors and the city to up the water for trees on a consistent schedule. Watering in the middle of the day means 60% evaporates. Dawn and dusk, or overnight for trees in need is a more effective use of water.

Another factor contributing to stress that’s causing species extinction is the increased heat we are experiencing. Higher temperatures and less rain are a terrible combination.

Some understandably balk at an increased water bill, however Martinez points out it costs $8,000 to $10,000 to take down a large, dead tree. If a person trades a monthly slightly higher water bill versus the cost of tree removal they still come out way ahead. Plus they have the benefit of a tree, its respiration to cool us and its shade in the desert.

Some towns are countering the devastation of trees and reluctance of homeowners and renters to pony up for increased water charges by allowing two water meters for each home. The homeowner pays for the installation of the second meter. However, one is for household water and sewer use, and the second meter has a lower water rate for watering the trees and plants.

Even many of the very old and very large pine trees are suffering. The Deodar cedars that allegedly were planted a few generations ago by a fellow from Fort Davis that brought the seeds from Tibet, which may be true, as we are at the same elevation, are still in trouble, even with their extensive roots. As you travel around Marfa, look up. When leaves are coming straight out of the trunk instead of smaller branches the tree is sending out an SOS.

One really good thing Marfa has going for it is our very rich soil. Some 35 million years ago when the Chinati Mountains were active volcanoes — one claimed to be the third highest mountain in the world — the lava flow came up all the way up here and volcanic ash enriched our soil, so if we can get water deep into the soil, it will support our trees.

The recent installation of the splash pad in Coffield Park had to have the “soft and fluffy” soil dug out “way down” and new soil brought in, according to Yoseff Ben Yehuda, who worked on the project. That right there, says Martinez, was volcanic ash.

So, as you begin to look up at our trees as you travel around Marfa, make sure to alert your friends and neighbors to the situation in their yards too. I now have a list of people I know well enough to inform them their trees are struggling, and feel certain they probably just haven’t noticed the leaf drop or aren’t aware how much water is needed at this moment to save them.

Martinez did a similar thing with a friend who had a tree in the front yard that needed water. He pointed out the corner of the house where the rain came down from the pitched roof was a short distance from the tree. He encouraged the owners to dig a small trench from the corner of the house to the tree, so when it does rain, it goes where it’s needed. They complied and the tree is looking good. Solutions are everywhere.

Best practice for your trees at this time is to set a soaker hose or low flow to each tree at least once a week for 20 hours. It’s important to move the water source around under the canopy of the tree while soaking, twice a week for clearly dying trees.

It’s also important to leave the natural mulch formed by the build up of pine needles and other tree debris that fall under the tree and help maintain moisture. Sometimes what may look messy to gardeners is the best defense a tree can muster. Bringing in other mulch is helpful as well as it helps hold water when we get a short, aggressive rain that otherwise would wash away.

Martinez has been an important one-man town beautification project (with his crew of course) and has educated the town about native grasses that don’t need to be eradicated. He’s also designed, installed and maintained that wonder of a garden behind the USO building for the past three years (which incidentally needs someone new to step up and continue the maintenance) and helped endless folks in town landscape with species of trees and plants that benefit the desert and all its inhabitants.

Thankfully Jim is an expert in his field and shares his knowledge to our benefit. I’ll go back to counting bugs on 2810 while the trees in my backyard get their long, slow, sustained watering.