A few years back we had a tree removed in the backyard and while the arborist was here they suggested the clean the dead limbs out of our huge 40′ pine trees in the front yard. They told us it would make the trees healthier and happier. We agreed, they climbed up and cleaned out the trees. No problem.

Then over the last year or so we noticed the trees weren’t growing new limbs and the needles they had weren’t looking very healthy. The arborist came out for a quote on other work, and while he was here I asked about the pines. His response was “Do you water them?”. I just gave him a look. Of course I don’t water trees. When I grew up, things just grew. Grass grew. Flowers grew. We definitely didn’t water mature, huge trees that have been growing for decades. I scoffed but after he left I watered them a few times. I’d put the hose out there and “flood” the yard (not really since it’s not designed that way but they did get water!).

It’s about six months later, and they sure are dead. Terribly dead. I’m not too thrilled with all of this. Needles are coming off like rain (which I wish I had more of), so the other evening I took the hose out again. I put it near one trunk and went inside. About three hours later I remembered the water and ran out. I moved the hose to the other tree, came in, and asked Donna to remind me to turn it off before we went to bed. Of course when I woke up the next more and hopped into the shower, I wondered why I had no water pressure. OH NO, all night long the hose ran in the front yard. I ran out and turned it off at 5:00am; water down the road and the rock yard spongy mud.

‘Course the trees still look dead.