Summer Tree Care Tips: How to Keep Your Trees Healthy in the Heat

Summer is a time when trees need extra care. The feverish temperatures and intense sunlight can cause stress and damage to trees if they are not properly cared for. In this blog post, we will share some summer tree care tips that you can use to maintain healthy trees in the summer season!

Prep for Dealing with Drought

The first summer tree care tip is to be aware of drought conditions in your area. Drought can cause trees to become stressed and weak, making them more susceptible to damage from the heat.

If you think that your tree may be suffering from drought stress, it is important to make plans for watering it more deeply and regularly. You can also apply mulch around the base of the tree to help retain moisture, which we’ll speak more about later.

Properly Water Your Trees

Speaking of watering more deeply, another summer tree care tip is to water your trees consistently and at the right time of day. Trees need more water during the summer months because of the increased evaporation. Make sure to provide your trees with enough water so that their roots can stay moist.

Also, be sure to water towards the latter end of the day. That way, there will be fewer sunrays evaporating so much of the watering on your trees.

Double-check the drainage of your property also to help ensure proper watering. If water drains quickly in your yard, this means you will need to water very frequently. You make your assessment by testing how moist soil is at about 6 inches below the surface when that surface is dry.

Note: If your tree is young (under 3 years old) or newly transplanted, it will need much more thorough watering while it is establishing its roots than is needed by a mature, established tree.

Fertilize Your Trees

Another summer tree care tip is to fertilize your trees. Trees need extra nutrients during the summer to help them grow and stay healthy. Look for a fertilizer that is slow-release and matches the blend of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium recommended by an ISA-Certified Arborist after performing a soil test.

Mulch Your Trees

One more summer tree care tip is to mulch your trees. Mulch can help create the ideal environment for your trees while adding a host of essential benefits to trees in the summer. Mulching helps protect the roots of trees by:

• insulating the roots during elevated surface temperatures
• increasing moisture retention in the soil
• minimizing weed growth
• reducing competition for resources with nearby flora
• suppressing grass growth near the trunk, reducing the risk of injury from mowing equipment.

Be careful: Over-mulching can lead to many other problems for your tree, such as oxygen starvation and imbalanced soil pH.

Add Soil Conditioner

Finally, one last summer tree care tip is to add a soil conditioner to the soil around your trees. Soil conditioners help improve drainage, aeration, and nutrient availability of the soil, not to mention better resistance to pests and diseases lurking about. This leads to your tree developing a stronger root system that is prepared to thrive during the scorching summer months.

Summertime can be tough on trees, between the scorching heat and lack of rain. However, by following these simple tips you can help your trees stay healthy and look great all summer long! If you have any questions about how to care for your trees or would like more information, contact TreeNewal today. Our team of experts will work with you to create a care plan that helps keep your trees healthy during this challenging season.

Happy summer tree care!

If you need advice or assistance with keeping your trees thriving through the summer, get in touch with the ISA-Certified Arborists at TreeNewal and enjoy tailored tree care advice.

To learn more about Summer Tree Care Tips: How to Keep Your Trees Healthy in the Heat, call our Argyle and Southlake-based teams

at (817) 592-6846 or send us a message.

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Healthy trees, healthy lives.