The dry conditions this season have called for inventive ways to keep gardens, lawns and trees watered.

Recently planted trees require plenty of water on a normal year. This season, it is crucial.

A story in Thursday’s Times described how one landscaper is supplying needed water to young trees at Samaritan Medical Center.

Creek Bend Lawn Care Service of LaFargeville is employing 5-gallon buckets to water young American elm, maple and flower crab trees on the hospital grounds.

By drilling small holes in the bottom of the buckets and filling the containers with water, the service is able to keep the trees healthy during one of the worst droughts in Northern New York’s history.

The year-old trees were beginning to wilt when Creek Bend owner Dina L. Jareo initiated the low-tech means of irrigating the plants. The slow release of water keeps the tree roots moist for longer periods of time than would conventional methods.

Other landscapers have gone to great lengths to keep trees watered this summer.

John. E. Moody, owner of Land Pro Landscaping, Watertown, has his employees going to Fort Drum every week with a 1,000 gallon water tank to refresh 3,000 trees on the post. The business has focused solely on watering trees during the dry spell.

When it comes to plant care, farmers, landscapers, gardeners and homeowners all have to be resourceful this summer.

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