There are a number of efforts to bring more shade to the Valley, as we continue to see more and more 100+ degree days. And a big part of those efforts is planting trees. But trees need water, which is in increasingly shorter supply and trees don’t always do so well in this climate. That’s where new research from Arizona State University and the University of Arizona comes in.
Scientists are trying to figure out better ways to water trees, in an effort to both conserve the limited resource and preserve tree health and the shade trees provide. And they seem to have come up with some potential solutions.
Bo Yang, professor in the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning in the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture at the UofA and lead investigator for smart tree watering in Arizona’s urban environment on this project, joined The Show to discuss how big of a deal it would be if they could figure out how to plant trees, make sure they thrive and use less water while doing so.
Full conversation
BO YANG: Definitely a very big deal on conserving water and also combat climate change. As you already mentioned, there is a water scarcity issue we are facing as a state. The Colorado River has been really facing climate change, has been shrinking. The water we are getting is becoming less…