The Great Wither: Athens Municipality calls on citizens to water the new trees

The Municipality of Athens invites the citizens to “adopt” a newly planted tree that is to undertake the cost for watering. The Municipality of Athens admitted in a statement the huge shortcomings it has in terms of watering the green spaces.

And there is the solution! Roll the responsibility over to the residents of the Greek capital.

Τrees and other plants were planted in tin flower boxes in June at a cost of at least 600,000 euros.

But no provision for their watering in a city that boils at least 3-4 months every year?

Watering newly planted greens in 2020 using the tradition of 1960’s

Can somebody plan and plant trees and other plants without taking into considerations the needs for watering and maintenance? Yes, one can. We are in Greece.

Oleander kills itself on Panepistimiou Avenue one day after its planting.

The municipality has calculated that the budget for maintenance of the new plants along the Athens Great Walk is 15,000 euros for 2 months.

According to the program “Adopt a Tree” citizens who will voluntarily participate should go out and water water the (poor) tree they have adopted.

The Municipality is using an Application that will remind citizens of their obligation to water the plants.

The new initiative of the Municipality of Athens and the bright mayor Costa Bakogiannis “Adopt a Tree”, which is part of the program “Adopt your city” in which private companies, institutions and individuals are invited to beautify or improve parts of Athens.

The multifaceted Christmas lighting was also the work of this initiative and drew criticism as the city ended up with many different decorations styles and triste Christmas lights blinking even during the day.

In its announcement, the Municipality admitted its shortcomings, noting that every year due to the lack of irrigation, it loses 10% to 40% of the newly planted trees every year.

Not to mention that downtown Athens is not the Athens Riviera or Miami and it needs different sorts of trees with bright shade.

Washingtonias, Fan Palms, in Athens – Do you want to rescue one?

The ambitious plan of the Great Walk could soon look like the Great Wither if one thinks of the boiling 38-39 degrees Celsius this week.

The watering of the trees and plants is another issued that draws criticism on the project that has lots of fancy stuff but not practical enough.