What Should I Do to Protect My Trees During a Drought?
Your Trees Are Very Vulnerable During Drought
If you are in an area that is experiencing prolonged dry conditions or in a drought, it is essential to take the below steps to ensure that your trees are protected and prevent any issues. Taking precautions before an expected long drought will keep your trees safe so you don’t have to have any worries. Drought stress can cause a lot of damage to trees, and it is important to know how to avoid these issues.
Deep Watering
Supplemental watering and keeping your trees moist throughout the drought will give it its best possible chance of survival. You do not need to water your trees daily, but frequently giving your tree a deep and long watering will help the soil deep in the ground stay moist. Water your tree at the base near where your roots start. Watering this area once a week and giving enough time to allow water to reach about 12-18 inches into the soil around the base of the tree. Doing this in the early morning or late in the evening is the best time. This will allow the water to penetrate while also preventing evaporation. It is best to invest in a soaker hose. Either laying it on top of the base of the tree or burying it a few inches below the soil will immensely help making watering your tree easy and painless. Soaker hoses will slowly release water to your tree’s roots and will help encourage effective absorption.
Protection By Mulching
Applying a thin layer of mulch at the base of your tree will help the soil stay moist. Laying around 3 or 4 inches at the base of your tree will not only keep the temperature of your soil low, but it will also help with water evaporation when you do your weekly deep watering. Make sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to avoid rot.
Soil Aeration
Prior to mulching, it is important to aerate the compacted soil around the base of the tree. This will help with water absorption and help promote healthy root systems. Creating holes in the ground near the base of your tree will allow oxygen and water to easily get to the roots of your tree.
Reduce Weeds, Plants, and Nearby Grass
Removing any weeds, plants, grass, or flowers from the area surrounding your tree will help remove the competition for water. Your tree needs all the attention it can get during a drought.
Avoid Pruning
You want to avoid pruning or cutting any branches off your tree while you are in a drought. Doing this may cause more stress to the tree. All of your tree’s energy should be focusing on remaining healthy and staying moisturized. When you prune, the tree will shift its focus to repairing the freshly cut area from where you pruned.
Avoid Fertilizing
Though it may seem intuitive, fertilizing your tree can encourage your tree to focus on new growth. When your tree focuses on new branches, it will use the water you give it and redirect it to focus on different areas. This can cause the tree to stress and some areas may not getting enough moisture.
Keep A Lookout for Stress
Make sure you keep an eye out for stress or pests. If your tree shows any signs of wilting, or if leaves are turning brown and dropping, it may be time to consult a professional for help. At Jospeh Tree, we specialize in anything that involves your trees, including tress stress. We have made it our mission to give Columbus, Ohio access to tree services that exceeds all expectations. Give us a call if you are experiencing any stress during a drought or any other time throughout the year. We will help guide you and care for your tree to make sure it stays healthy no matter the conditions outside.
Give Joseph Tree A Call Today!
Joseph Tree is dedicated to serving the people and trees in the Columbus, Ohio area. We have been around for over 20 years and still find caring for trees to be the most exciting job. We have all the knowledge and experience needed to care for your tree to the best of our abilities. We are here and ready to care for your trees, especially during a drought. We know that trees are a big expense that also take a long time to grow. Caring for your tree during a drought will ensure that it is protected and stays healthy. We have been able to save many of our clients from issues during drought conditions. This protection will ensure that you don’t have to worry about it not surviving and needing to remove a dead tree. Additionally, replacing it and replanting a new tree can be expensive and you will need to go through the long growing period to get to the point of where your original tree may have been at. There are so many reasons why protecting your tree during a drought is important and we at Jospeh Tree are ready to assist you. Our team Is hard-working and passionate. We are ready to care for your trees! Give us a call today to get started! Every day protecting your tree during a drought makes a difference. Don’t wait until it is too late.