For many homeowners, summer landscape care switches to maintaining the lawn and making sure the garden beds remain weed-free. The trees in the yard are often overlooked once they put on their green canopies. Dedicating some of your summer yard work time to the trees, though, can result in healthier plants and few future problems. The following tips can help.
Tip #1: Keep an eye on the canopy
Summer storms can cause damage to the branches in the canopy, but you may not notice it right away since the full green leaves effectively camouflage potential problems. This can be a problem if a future storm then dislodges a broken branch, causing it to drop and cause property damage below. Spend some time after any storms carefully looking into the tree canopy for signs of breakage or damage, such as cracked or raw wood showing along a branch. If you can easily reach the branch, you can trim it back to the trunk yourself. Otherwise, bring in a tree pro to do the job.
Tip #2: Watch for pests
A healthy tree can usually fight off pests and disease issues with minimal effort. The problem is in hottest parts of summer, when drought stress can make a tree more susceptible to problems. Keep an eye out for insects along the trunk or feeding damage on leaves. Disease symptoms may include leaf or branch dieback. If you notice any type of pest or disease issues, bring in a tree service right away. Often, by acting quickly you can save a tree – or at least keep the problem from spreading.
Tip #3: Water wisely
Fully mature trees typically get sufficient water from regular lawn watering. This is because they have deep roots that allow them to survive minor droughts. Younger trees, on the other hand, may not yet have extensive root systems. Take the time to water these trees during extended dry periods. Watering every couple of weeks is usually sufficient, except for newly planted trees which may need watered once or twice weekly. If the soil is bare over the roots, consider laying down a couple of inches of mulch to help conserve soil moisture so it doesn't evaporate.
Tip #4: Avoid lawn care damage
Summer can also be tough on tree trunks. Most lawn care involves lawnmowers and string trimmers. Hitting a tree trunk with either can cause damage, such as knocking off the bark. A tree can be left open to diseases if the trunk is damaged and severe damage can even lead to death. Avoid using these tools right next to the trunk, perhaps by installing a mulch buffer. Another problem can occur when you fertilize your lawn. High nitrogen lawn fertilizers can burn a tree trunk, so don't lay down fertilizer right next to the tree.
Contact a tree service like Carlos Tree Service Inc if you have any questions.
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