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If you've ever sat in the shade of one of Cartagena's magnificent ficus trees on a sweltering summer afternoon, you'll know just how valuable they are. This summer, the Ayuntamiento is making sure they stay that way, with a dedicated watering programme designed to protect these ancient specimens from the stress of extreme heat.

 

The plan is detailed and surprisingly intensive. The ficus trees along the Sea Wall will receive six separate waterings a day, each lasting three minutes, adding up to around 630 litres per tree daily. Those in Parque Torres, Plaza de España and La Rinconada get the same frequency but longer sessions of six minutes each, bringing their daily water intake to around 1,080 litres per tree.

 

For trees in areas with more complex technical requirements, such as Plaza San Francisco and Calle Adarve de Artillería, municipal workers will arrive by tanker truck twice a week and apply approximately 3,000 litres per tree in a single visit.

 

The reasoning is sound. Despite the natural toughness of the ficus, prolonged water stress in extreme heat can trigger premature leaf drop, stunted growth and, in serious cases, structural instability that puts large branches at risk of breaking. These are listed trees of significant environmental and heritage value, and losing even one would be a blow to the city's green landscape.

 

The ficus irrigation is just one part of a broader special summer operation launched by the Ayuntamiento's Parks and Gardens service. Teams have already been working through several neighbourhoods including Barrio Peral, Sector Estación and Torreciega, carrying out clearing, pruning, edging and general conditioning of green spaces, with the work set to roll out across the whole municipality in the coming weeks.

 

It builds on a significant effort during the first half of 2026 to expand Cartagena's urban tree canopy, with new trees planted across streets, squares, parks and gardens throughout the city and its surrounding districts. The goal is more shade, better air quality and a city that's better equipped to handle the kind of summers that are becoming increasingly demanding.

 

For anyone enjoying Cartagena's green spaces this July and August, a lot of quiet, careful work is going on behind the scenes to keep them looking their best.

 

 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena