Two water trucks help the urban greenery through the summer
11.08.2025 – After a recovery phase, the sun is shining continuously and hot again. The recent rain has barely moistened more than the top few millimetres of the soil. The water has hardly penetrated to the deeper root layers.
This is why the greenery department of Stadtwerke Offenbach's Stadtservice is currently shifting the focus of its work to watering. "Our colleagues are then working non-stop," says Sophie Geyer, master gardener at Stadtservice. "In the spring and summer months, we have our two water trucks scheduled all day anyway. In extreme temperatures, we sometimes deviate from the watering schedule if an area is in danger of drying out. Then we also water by hand from standpipes in the urban area." The two water trucks each hold around 3500 liters. The employee, who is on the road all day, uses them to bring around 30,000 liters of water to flower beds and planting bags that are placed on newly planted trees on the roadside or in parks throughout the city.
If the heat is persistently dry, perennials also need watering
The perennials growing on the central reservation of the Ring and Mühlheimer Straße also need watering during prolonged periods of heat. Although they were specifically selected to be as heat-resistant as possible and require little water, they are not desert plants. "The perennials cope well with heat and little rain, but not with prolonged periods of dry heat," says Sophie Geyer. The central reservation in particular, surrounded by heated asphalt and constant warm wind, now requires additional watering. Basically, the employees with the tankers are happy to do their job. However, if they have to block an inside lane with their vehicle for a short time, they are often verbally abused by passing vehicles.
Many passers-by also don't understand why the water trucks are on the road despite the forecast rain or even drizzle. "The amount of rain that has fallen in recent weeks is only enough to spoil barbecues or make walking unpleasant. It doesn't do much for the plants. At the moment, the soil is very dry and takes a long time to soften up enough for the water to soak in rather than run off. That's why we soften the soil by watering before the rain. And we keep watering during light rain because it's not enough," explains Sophie Geyer.
Young trees are provided with water bags
The young trees planted in the last five years are the main focus of the gardeners' work schedules. Their roots do not yet reach deep enough into the soil to be able to absorb water from deeper layers. For this reason, they are usually provided with a water bag that is topped up regularly and from which moisture is released evenly.
It is not possible to water all of the more than 20,000 trees in the city. Only in exceptional cases do the older trees receive water from the tanker. However, citizens can help here: Anyone who would like to can support the green shade providers in front of their house with a few watering cans during the long dry spell caused by the increasingly long and hot summers.
Watering at home is best done early in the morning
For Offenbach residents with a garden, professional Sophie Geyer also has a watering recommendation: "We have to water during our working hours during the day and also at lunchtime. But if you water your garden at home, you should do it in the early hours of the morning if possible. If possible, the leaves of rose bushes should not get wet - they quickly develop a fungus if the water cannot dry off quickly. If you water in the sunshine, bear in mind that the drops act like little burning glasses. And watering in the evening is especially good for snails, which find it easier to move from plant to plant on damp ground."