But politicians need to be sure they are digging in the right place or risk leaving them as bare as an autumn tree.

Following the Chief Minister's official tree planting at the Canberra Arboretum with the Prime Minister, Liberal MLA Vicki Dunne sent out a media release questioning previous claims made about the facility by the Chief Minister.

Mrs Dunne called on the Chief Minister to "give an account of how the Arboretum is watered" after receiving "a number of approaches from people who contend that the Arboretum is being watered by potable water."

She said "her advice was that neither the bore on the site nor water from the lake was being used."

But if Mrs Dunne attended the ceremony and waited until 10:30am for the Prime Minister to arrive, she would have received her answer before putting out her media release six hours later.

Speaking after the Chief Minister and Prime Minister, Chairman of the Governing Board for the Arboretum, John Mackay detailed water use at the site.

He said "trees actually don't use much water." No potable water comes onto the site whatsoever the only water that comes onto the site is recycled water from Lower Molonglo."

He went on to mention that the centre was "in the process of building a 42-million litre dam."

Mr Mackay said it "wasn't a bad question, but I think we should answer it every time."

Maybe Vicki Dunne will be on hand next time to have her questions answered.