Editor’s note: Although San Marcos is still working toward achieving the official Tree City USA designation, it has already been recognized for its efforts in increasing the number of trees in the city. In 2024, for example, San Marcos’s Friends of Trees program received the Outstanding Community Forestry Program Award from the Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.
Begun in 2018, that program continues today, reliant not just on Urban Forester Kelly Eby but also on community volunteers who help keep these trees alive. At present, two opportunities are available for people who want to help.
Tree Watering at Parks
Please review the available watering slots below and click the button to sign up.
Sign-Up Genius website.
If you are unable to water during your assigned week, please let Kelly know. Rain alone is not sufficient during the summer for young tree establishment, so regular watering is essential.
For trees without a bag, you can determine how long it takes to apply 10–15 gallons of water to each tree by timing how long it takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket. Before filling the gator bag, make sure to water the base of the tree for 90–120 seconds.
The green gator bag is a large plastic sleeve that holds 20 gallons and slowly releases water for deep watering. If you notice damage that prevents the bag from filling, let Kelly know so she can replace it. Minor damage can be repaired by pinching the hole closed, covering it with duct tape, and securing it with a few staples.
Please bring your own watering hose. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or text 512-214-3491 (Monday-Friday 8-5). If you are unable to water, please let Kelly know so the trees do not die she can work to find a way to water them.
Tree Watering at Crockett
In 2024, San Marcos Urban Forester Kelly Eby and Crockett Elementary School worked together to plant 61 trees on the campus through a grant with H-E-B called Trees for Texans. The trees have survived but likely need care for the next two years to fully establish. It is helpful to water the trees every 10-14 days unless we receive a 2+ inch rain event. We only need you to water once a month. These are super tough tree species: Lacey oaks, Mexican Plum, retama, Mexican white oak, arroyo sweetwood, desert willow, cedar elm, eve’s necklace . . . and more.
It is proven that trees at schools can do much more than beautify or provide shade. They can increase test scores, reduce anxiety, increase attendance, and more see (Human Dimensions of Urban Forestry and Urban Greening). Please consider adopting an area of the school to water.
These are the zones at Crockett Elementary School:
Volunteer Sign-Up: If you would like to adopt a zone, email Kelly Eby at [email protected] with your name, phone number, and the time period you can water (Week1-4). Also indicate if you have a preferred watering zone (zones A, B, C and D, D2 are shown on the map. Or sign up using the QR code. It assumes that there are four weeks in a month and you are choosing which week to water on a monthly basis to prevent hose use conflicts. 
If you are unable to water on your scheduled week, please let Kelly know. (A week can be Saturday to Sunday.) If you are watering during school hours, please check in the front office.
Instructions for watering/tree care:
- Drip line: attach a hose and water the entire zone in 20-40 minutes. (Zone D2)
- Make sure you water the base of the tree before filling the gator bag 90-120 seconds.
- Hoses and water keys are on site. Please return them neatly where you found them.
- Tree Diaper: soak it in a 5 gallon bucket of water for 4 hours and watch it grow, place around the base of the tree to help reduce watering frequency. Rain also recharges it. This is amazing technology that helps extend the time between watering
- Gator bag- fill it up to the top in the pocket, it’s like a giant plastic sleeve that holds 20 gallons and slowly releases water. (If you see damage let Kelly know, easy to repair with duct tape and a stapler.
- Mulch spread 3” deep, 12” away from the trunk. The wider the better. 3-4’ radius.
Kelly is happy to meet you and look at the system to answer any questions you may have.
Questions? Contact Kelly ([email protected] text 512-214-3491) or Mandy ([email protected]).
Submitted by Kelly Eby, City of San Marcos Urban Forester