Top 6 Actions for Strong Summer Tree Care

The dog days of summer can be rough on your trees. Take these top 6 actions to provide robust tree care and healthy growing conditions.

1 – Irrigation

During the hot, dry weather of summer, watering trees may be necessary, especially if your trees are young or newly planted. On average, trees require one inch of water per week. When watering trees, deeper, less frequent applications of water promote better root growth than shallow, more frequent irrigation. The best time to water is in the morning or evening. This optimal timing will give the roots a chance to absorb most of the water and less will be lost to evaporation. How often you should water your trees is dependent upon the size of your tree, and soil and weather conditions. Newly planted trees will demand much more water than mature trees. The best way to determine when trees need water is to check the soil. Be sure that your soil remains moist but not soggy. Over-irrigation can be just as detrimental as under-irrigation and can lead to root death through drowning or attack by root rot fungi.

2 – Fertilization and Biostimulants

Trees should be fertilized in spring or fall, and a biostimulant application can be made in summer. When growing, trees need a steady supply of micro and macro nutrients and fertilizing helps achieve that. By supplementing essential nutrients, we can assure that trees will grow healthy and strong. Fertilizers also help trees protect themselves against pests and disease. SavATree’s 100% sea kelp based biostimulant named ArborKelp is effective in enhancing hair root growth which leads to mitigating the effects of drought and other stress factors.

3 – Insect, Mite, and Disease Management

Examining trees on a regular basis throughout the summer for insect/mite infestations and signs of disease is essential. Discovering any potential tree problems early will give you a jump start on treatment. The most active critters to look out for in the summer months are magnolia scale, bagworms, Japanese beetles, aphids, emerald ash borers, and spider mites. Insects and mites are extremely active and reproduce very quickly during the summer months, rapidly building to damaging levels if left untreated.

4 – Pruning 

Deciduous trees are happily pruned in early spring, right before they break dormancy. At this point in time, the trees are still bare so it will be easier to spot broken and awkwardly growing branches and decide how to direct growth. And because growth will start soon, pruning cuts will encourage movement in the desired direction. For flowering trees and shrubs, it’s best to forgo any pruning until flowering has finished. Summer pruning is often used to direct growth by slowing down the development of a tree or branch. The best timing for this type of pruning is just after the seasonal growth has reached its peak. A second time to prune is in late summer. Many trees are best pruned in late summer when healing is most rapid.

5 – Removal

It’s unlikely that we’ll ever recommend removing a healthy tree unless there is no other option. Once we’ve performed all of the actions above, a takedown is the last alternative if it’s necessary for the safety or liability of your property.

6 – Planting

If you  have lost a tree in your landscape, consider planting a new one. It’s the only way to maintain the urban and suburban beneficial tree canopy!

 

Schedule a free consultation with a SavATree tree care professional.

 

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