As the heat rises so does stress, not only for us humans but also for our trees. So below you will find some advice to beat the summer heat stress for trees here in Central Texas.

Pruning

Improper Pruning during hotter temperatures can cause stress to a tree, such as pruning too much off a tree. Trees grow and produce leaves to manufacture sugars for fuel, and transevaporate water that keep them cool.

Removing too many fuel producing leaves off a tree during the summer could cause it stress. Try to reduce summer pruning to the removal of only dead or broken branches, necessary structural or hazard pruning such as roof, walkway or vehicular clearance.

Prune with a clear objective in mind.

Mulch

Applying mulch under or around trees will benefit trees by helping to retain moisture and keep the soil around young absorbing roots cool during high heat.

Water

The warmer months are an important time to provide water to the tree roots. In order for trees to have enough water, don’t wait until the tree is dry to water it. Infrequent but deep watering of the entire root system out to the drip line of the branches will benefit the tree the most.

During the summer, the trees may need to be watered every seven days or so. For smaller, newly planted trees a drip system with one or two emitters at the edge of the rootball would provide adequate irrigation.

Turn the system on for about thirty minutes every two or three days. Watering needs should be reevaluated after the tree has been in the ground for a few months.

Nutrients

One useful approach to maintaining over all vigor is to maintain proper irrigation levels and improve soil quality. Soil improvement is largely done through the addition of organic materials to existing soils above or below the surface.

Adding beneficial bacteria ( mycorrhizae ) and humates by way of “Deep Root Feeding” can help improve soil and root structure, reduce compaction and create a food source for microbial activity. In other words a “rain forest” environment!

So put to the above care tactics to practice and don’t let the summer bum you or your trees out!