.png)
Summer heat is hard on trees!
Summer has officially arrived, and with it come long hot days that can be hard on the trees and plants in your yard. Just like us, trees can be stressed by summer heat, and they have no way of escaping to air conditioning or reaching for a cold beverage to cool down. Even mature and established trees that have been around for a long time can be seriously stressed by prolonged periods of heat and drought. This kind of stress can cause future health problems down the road, inviting pests and diseases, and even killing trees.
Though you may not be able to bring your trees inside to cool off, there are things that you can do to help them ward off the stresses of high outdoor temperatures. Here are seven tips to help your trees beat the summer heat.
1. Supplemental Watering
A good long drink of water once or twice a week can give your trees a big boost to beat the searing stresses of summer. Just like us, trees need hydration, especially in hot weather. In fact, trees go through a process called transpiration which is kind of like perspiration (aka sweating) in people. When trees transpire, they do go through a physical process where water vapor passes out of tiny pores (called stomates) in their leaves. In severe heat, trees can experience significant water loss which may cause leaves to wilt, burn or even die and fall off. Without enough water, extended heat and drought can cause a tree to stop growing and may make it more prone to pest and disease attacks.
Here are some tips for summer watering:
- The best times to water are in the early mornings and evenings. If possible, avoid watering during the heat of the day.
- Deep infrequent waterings are better than frequent shallow waterings. Newly planted trees may need more frequent watering than older established trees.
- Also avoid watering the trunk or foliage on your trees, as this can invite bark rot and disease issues.
- If you are using an irrigation system, avoid wrapping the lines and hoses around the bases of your trees.
2. Put down hardwood mulch around your tree’s root zone.
Mulching a tree has many benefits, and it is one of the best ways to keep your tree roots cool and conserve the vital soil moisture your tree needs. Mulches made of natural materials - such as wood chips, bark mulch, and pine straw - have the most benefit. And over time they will break down into your soil, contributing valuable organic matter and soil nutrients.
Mulch should be put down on the ground around the base of your tree but should not cover the trunk flare. Think of this as a giant mulch donut with an opening in the center that is pulled a few inches away from the base of your tree. The mulch thickness should be about 2-3 inches – and no deeper - but the further you can extend the mulch ring toward the dripline of the canopy, the better.
3. Watering bags and mats
Watering bags and mats like Tree Gators and Tree Diapers are easy and relatively inexpensive ways to keep your tree watered on an ongoing basis. They are especially helpful because they supply an ongoing slow and steady supply of water to your tree so you don’t have to spend as much time and effort watering it. You do need to check the devices periodically to make sure that they are filled or recharged with water.
Professional Soil Health Care services can be a big help to your trees.
For trees both young and old, periodic professional soil health care services can give them a valuable advantage to face the challenges of summer heat. Mature trees especially may benefit because of their large size and advanced age. Older trees, like older people, tend to be more susceptible to stress and may be more likely to suffer or decline from increasing extremes of summer heat and drought. Professional care is often needed to give these trees the help they need to make it through the hot, dry summer months. Newly planted trees also face some difficulty during the summer months as they try to grow and establish in their new locations.
For any situation, Monster Tree Service has a suite of services that are specifically tailored to meet the needs of both young and large mature trees. These services include:
4. Soil Health Program
The Soil Health Program includes a group of holistic products applications that incorporate natural organic materials and microbial biostimulants into your tree’s soil. These applications work with soil biology to naturally aerate the soil and increase its ability to hold moisture. Increased biological soil activity also benefits your tree to give it the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and help it resist the stresses of summer drought.
5. Hygroscopic Humectants
Hygroscopic humectants are amazing soil additives that attract humidity from the air, convert it into soil available water, and retain moisture within the soil so that it remains available for plants and trees as needed. They are great for landscapes and large trees, especially where other irrigation options are difficult or impractical. They are also a more sustainable solution for watering, as they reduce the need for supplemental irrigation. Formulations are also bio-based and biodegradable. They are included in our Soil Health Program or can be used alone.
6. Tree Growth Regulator
Tree growth regulators are hormonal treatments that can redirect a tree’s energy away from producing top growth and allocate it towards expanding fine root development. More fine roots mean more access to water which can help plants and trees during dry periods.
7. Soil Excavation
A major stress factor for trees, especially in summer, is compacted soil. In residential areas, soils are frequently compacted - or crushed – especially in home yards that see a lot of heavy lawn equipment and foot traffic. When soils are compacted, they lack pore spaces that infiltrate and retain water, which may worsen a situation where a tree is facing heat and drought. Tree roots also have a difficult time growing in compacted soil. The result is that in hot summer weather, tree roots can’t access and absorb the amount of water that the tree needs to resist heat and drought stress.
Soil excavations use a non-invasive air tool that can lift soil to relieve compaction around a tree’s root zone without cutting or damaging tree roots. When paired with a Soil Health Program and Tree Growth Regulators, this is a fast and direct way to fix compaction issues and rebuild soil so that your tree has a more optimal growing environment and can expand its root zone.
Now is the time to protect your trees!
With a long summer just starting, now is the time to take measures to give your trees a little extra TLC – Tree Loving Care – to help them beat the heat. Talk to your Monster arborist about options and treatment plans that best fit your needs. Your trees will thank you and return the favor, offering many seasons of beauty in your yard - and some valuable shade -for many summers to come!