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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknifers may be enjoying this summer's warmer than usual weather but it's taking a toll on plants and trees around the city.

Some rain over the weekend provided some relief, but more than 20 black spruce trees around the legislative assembly building and near the paved parking lot have died. Meanwhile, some of the flowers in the area are turning brown and wilting.

"We don't believe that there is any infection or anything like that going on," said Brian Thagard, sergeant-at-arms at the legislative assembly. "It's just the nature of the season that we are having this year with it being so hot and dry. Even with our flowers and stuff we are having trouble. We are out there watering them every single day and they are still looking pretty wilted and rough."

Some of the trees perished last year and just haven't been cleaned out yet, Thagard said.

"We are just waiting to get out there and do a little pruning and cleaning up of that area," he said, adding he isn't concerned about the number of dead trees at this point. "It's the same thing at my house in my backyard. My tree leaves are starting to go brown on them and I can't afford to keep watering them."

Average temperatures in Yellowknife have been higher than normal this summer. On July 10 the city broke a daily record when it reached 31.9 C. The previous record, held since 1975, was 28.9 C.

Ric's Ground Maintenance, a landscaping company, has had to hire a water truck this year because there hasn't been enough rain to keep the plants healthy, according to owner, Ric Fair.

This year there has been a lower than average amount of rain whereas last year precipitation levels were considerably higher than normal. June 2011, for instance, saw 34.2 millimetres of rain when the average is 26.9 millimetres for the month. In comparison, Yellowknife saw only 4.2 millimetres of precipitation this June.

Although, the warm weather has meant more work for gardeners, Tamara Christen, greenhouse manager at Arctic Farmer Nursery, said there is an upside.

"I think the vegetables and everything are growing better because of the heat," Christen said, adding the growing season has also been longer. "The season began the middle of May this year and last year it was the beginning of June."

Fair said the best way to help plants beat the heat is to water them early in the morning and again after the sun goes down.

"There is no sense watering in the middle of the day, it just burns off," she said.

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