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Slow-release watering is best for young trees

The mysterious green bags appeared on trees around Chilliwack. Curious minds wanted to know what they were being used for.
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These dark-green sacks attached to some young trees in Chilliwack are slow-release watering bags.

You may have noticed the dark-green bags attached to some young trees around Chilliwack.

They appeared recently along Airport Road, Young Road, and Webster Road.

Turns out they are slow-release watering bags, according to City of Chilliwack officials.

They were installed on some of the new trees planted this spring before the hotter weather arrived.

"This is the first year we have used the bags, so they are fairly new to us," said Mayor Sharon Gaetz. "Operations staff was planning ahead for the hot summer weather and it just kind of coincided with the early heat wave."

The plan is to leave them on for the rest of the summer.

Just one bagful of water will usually provide enough moisture to last for up to a week.

The efficient design of the slow-release bags allows for deeper saturation which keeps moisture below the surface, reducing transplant shock and encouraging root growth downward.

jfeinberg@theprogress.com

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