How to Unleash the Full Potential of Your Trees This Summer!
As the sunny season brings joy and more time to enjoy spending time outside, but it can also bring challenges for our beloved trees. Therefore, it is important to understand how to care for them properly during this hot weather. From watering and mulching to pruning and fertilizing, we will guide you through the necessary steps to ensure the health of our trees throughout the summer months.
Whether you’re a tree enthusiast or just starting your arboriculture journey, this article can provide you with practical tips and advice to help your trees be happy and healthy during the summer.
- Irrigation System
In the Summer, when the weather has high temperatures and low humidity, it can be crucial to weather your trees, especially if they are young or recent. It is essential for trees to receive an average of one inch of water on a weekly basis. For optimal root development, it is recommended to water trees in deeper substantial applications rather than more frequent shallow watering.
2. Mulching
If you haven’t had the opportunity to mulch your trees during the spring, it is not too late! Mulching around the base of the tree can provide significant benefits for the tree’s health. It can help prevent evaporation, ensure soil moisture, stabilize soil temperatures, and reduce competing weeds. Additionally, mulch serves as a warm blanket for the tree roots during the frosty winter season.
During the process of adding mulch, it is essential to leave a couple of inches of space between the mulch and the trunk of the tree. Placing the mulch too close to the tree can result in the development of diseases and can attract insects and pest activity. Make sure to spread the mulch evenly using shredded hardwood mulch in a circle around the base of the tree.
3. Proper Tree Trimming/Pruning
When thinking about tree maintenance, the first step often comes to mind is tree trimming or pruning. While this is typically recommended during the dormant season (late Fall to early Spring), there are specific instances when trimming a tree during summer is essential. It becomes crucial for the tree’s health and safety precautions when there are broken, dying, or diseased branches.
This practice can also prevent potential property damage during severe thunderstorms. Always hire a professional arborist to perform the trimming, and we would be happy to schedule a free estimate for you at your convenience.
4. Fertilizer
To keep our trees healthy and promote sufficient growth, providing adequate nourishment is essential. Trees located in urban or suburban areas often face higher stress factors, which can lead to insufficient nutrients and affect their well-being.
When selecting the appropriate fertilizer, it is vital to ensure it contains the necessary nutrients and minerals for the trees. If you are unsure about the nutrient levels in the soil surrounding your tree, you can send a soil sample to a testing laboratory. This process will help determine the specific requirements for caring for your trees.
5. Thunderstorm Safe
Prioritizing our safety and protecting our property during the summer is crucial, particularly in regions prone to hurricanes or high tornado risks. While we are located in Michigan, where these risks are not abundant, we still need to be mindful of severe thunderstorms and aggressive winds that can cause damage to our trees.
Taking preventive measures is important for our safety, and it is recommended to seek guidance from a professional arborist who can assess he condition of your trees. The use of cabling or bracing may be recommended to establish a strong support system and prevent excessive movement of tree limbs.
We hope these summer tree care tips have helped you with the knowledge and confidence to care for your trees effectively throughout the sunny weather! By implementing proper watering, providing sufficient mulching, performing timely pruning/trimming, and considering the appropriate needs of your trees, you can establish the tree’s health, beauty, or resilience during the summer months.
As a reminder, our trees are very valuable assets to our environment, providing us oxygen, shade, habitat for small animals, and giving us aesthetic appeal. Investing a little effort in caring for our trees can reward us with healthy and thriving trees for years to come.