Did you know trees can live almost indefinitely under the right conditions? While these plants aren’t immortal, they can live for centuries unless external factors cause their deaths.
Of course, our urban environments contain many external factors that can make things hard for our trees. From poor soil to excess heat to droughts, our trees are often under stress.
That’s why summer tree care is so important. Preserving your tree during the hottest months of the year can help ensure its good health. Let’s look at a few things you should do to prepare your tree for the summer.
1. Don’t Forget to Mulch
The best time to mulch your tree is in the spring; the second best time is now. Mulch can help keep weeds at bay, maintain a stable temperature, and keep moisture in the soil where it belongs.
Shredded hardwood is a good choice for your mulch. Spread it in a 2-3 inch layer in a circle around your tree’s roots. Don’t put too much around the base of the trunk, as this can invite unwanted pests and diseases.
2. Provide Some Extra Water
Summer can get hot and dry here in Indiana, which is why extra watering is a crucial part of any tree maintenance routine.
For saplings, you’ll want to provide around 20 gallons of water per week. For mature trees, a good rule of thumb is to provide 10 gallons for each inch of the trunk’s diameter. Make sure you focus on deep, infrequent watering rather than shallow watering.
3. Trim Your Tree
The bulk of your tree trimming should happen in mid to late winter. This makes it easier to see which branches need removal, and it prepares your tree for rapid growth in the spring.
However, you should also expect to do minimal pruning in the summer months. As your tree’s leaves grow in, you may spot broken, weak, or infected branches. It’s important to remove these branches for the health of your tree.
Note that it’s always a good idea to contact a professional tree service if you plan to trim trees: this task can be more dangerous than it looks!
4. Prevent Storm Damage
A well-pruned tree is less likely to drop weak or damaged branches during a summer storm. However, there are also other things you can do to prepare for seasonal storms.
In some cases, an arborist may suggest cabling or bracing weak limbs. This can not only protect your property during a storm, but it may also curb your tree’s leaf and twig shedding.
5. Check for Pests
Insects and other pests thrive during the summer, and the last thing you want is to let them make a home in your tree. Check for pests on a regular basis throughout the warm months of the year.
You’ll want to do your homework on the types of pests most likely to invade the species of tree you have. However, you should also look out for a few general nuisances, such as aphids, lace bugs, bagworms, mites, and sawflies.
Try These Tree Care Tips
If you’re hoping to enjoy your trees this summer, you’ll want to follow the tree care tips above. From proper trimming to pest inspections, maintaining your tree’s health can help it thrive during the warm months.
As you work to improve your tree care, don’t forget that the team at Grace Tree Service is here to help! We’re proud to offer tree trimming services and more to property owners throughout the Kokomo area. To learn how we can help, get in touch today.