“If the tree outside my unit is dropping leaves, should I water it?”
The short answer is no.
When heat and dry soil set in, trees often respond by shedding some of their leaves. You’ll notice that the fallen leaves usually come from the lower and inner canopy, while the outer and upper leaves remain green. This is not random damage—it’s a survival strategy.
Local trees evolved in climates with wet winters and springs followed by dry summers. To conserve water, they let go of older, shaded leaves that aren’t pulling their weight in photosynthesis. Before the leaves drop, the tree reclaims nutrients, which is why they turn yellow first.
Watering with a hose during hot weather can actually harm the tree. Shallow surface watering trains roots to stay near the top of the soil, leaving the tree more vulnerable to future heat. It can also leave moisture around the trunk, inviting rot and disease.
Instead, Village irrigation systems are designed to provide deep, occasional watering that reaches a foot or more into the soil—right where tree roots thrive.
Landscaping Picks Up Garden Clippings
Laguna Woods Village offers a weekly garden clippings pickup service. To participate, contact Resident Services at 949-597-4600 or email residentservices@vmsinc.org before noon on Thursday and provide your address to schedule a Friday morning pickup. Place your garden waste in a single, accessible pile near the curb, but not until Thursday evening. Do not dispose of garden clippings in the organics recycling bins.
For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.
