Homeowners are being reminded to help those who cannot come in out of the heat this week, and water your trees. Melissa Iger is Executive Director of the Tree Foundation of Kern and says trees need deep watering to deal with heat stress, or they could die. Thousands of trees around Bakersfield have died during the drought, but Iger says they can survive the heat if you use a slow-drip hose instead of sprinklers because it makes sure the water reaches the deep roots. Of particular concern are coastal redwoods which are popular in Bakersfield. They’re ill-suited for the environment here and many have died. Sycamores and eucalyptus are also subject to dropping branches in the heat, that can be dangerous.

Sean Michael Lisle