Introduction
Summer is already here, and in this season, trees are your best friends. They give your shade and keep you cool. However, with the scorching heat, this is the time these friends of yours suffer the most. So taking care of the trees in your garden is essential now. Everything in your garden - starting from the soil to the mulch and your watering techniques - need to be closely watched, especially if you have planted a few new trees.
Tree care tips for the summer
It is hard to maintain a garden, especially when you, yourself, are panting and sweating because of the constant sun. Anyhow, you don’t have to sweat it at least for the research - we have got you covered there. In this post, we have presented you with everything you will need to be aware of in order to protect your beloved trees from the nasty heat.
Water them right
Being the owner of a garden, obviously, you know that you would have to water your trees. However, using the wrong technique may harm your trees big time. The amount of water required depends on the species of the plant, the weather, the soil type, as well as the age of the tree. Here are what you must keep in mind-
- Do not overwater your trees. Not only does it affect the growth of their roots, but it may also lead to a disease or even the death of your plant. Trees do not necessarily need to be watered every day. On average, 1 inch of water every week is sufficient for them. The trick to understanding if it already has enough water is to check the soil. Do not water your plant more if the soil feels soggy. Also, keep a check on the weather forecast. If it says it is going to rain, or if it has already rained, there is no need to water your plants any further. Nevertheless, water demand for a different plant is different. It is always best to learn about the species you have in your garden and get advice from a tree-care specialist.
- Water your plants at night or early in the morning. This way they can soak up water before heavy evaporation begins and hence it will not get thirsty the rest of the day no matter how hot it gets.
- Water your plant slowly. This prevents overflow, gains you control over the water-amount threshold, and at the same time, helps the roots absorb the water before it evaporates. You need to follow this procedure even more if your soil has a great deal of sand in it.
Mulching
In summers, mulching is highly recommended. Remove the grass from a radius of 3 to 10 feet around your tree and fill the area with natural mulch, as in, bark, wood pieces, or the remains of a tree trunk you had ground. The mulch should be spread 2 to 4 inches deep, but keep it from touching the trunk. It is extremely beneficial for your trees for a number of reasons -
- Mulch acts as a natural buffer for any kind of temperature change. So it moderates the temperature around your tree to an optimum level in any season.
- It retains moisture, and therefore it works wonders in the situation of drought. As an added advantage, the tree also does not have to compete with other plants nearby for water.
- It keeps the weed off of the trees by preventing root competition.
- It keeps your plant protected from the wrong turn of the lawnmower.
- It prevents the soil around your tree from becoming too dense.
- A mulch of barks and dead leaves is packed with essential nutrients. So it keeps your tree well-fed as well.
Before you use mulch, make sure you water your tree. Additionally, you should be careful of the material you use since the wrong mulch can heat up the tree instead of cooling it. For example, do not use decomposed granite for this purpose because it absorbs heat and reflects it. This will rather injure your tree.
The right pruning
Pruning is a major part of tree-care. Plants producing flowers in the spring should be pruned in the first summer after flowering finishes. Be that as it may, in the summertime, you need to keep a check on how much pruning you are doing. Leaves are the Sungard for your tree. Do not prune so much that the bark is exposed to the raw sun causing stress to your tree.
The right positioning
Every tree has different sun requirements. If you put a shade-preferring tree in direct sun, you will cause it tremendous damage. The reverse is also true. So in case you are unsure about these conditions for the trees you have in your garden, do not shy away from taking help from a professional.
Fertilizing techniques
Usually, it is suggested that you apply slow-release fertilizers in the early spring so it takes care of your trees through the summer till fall. That being said, not all trees need it and deciding which tree does and when is a critical matter. Based on the content, there are mainly three types of fertilizers available in the market-
- Nitrogen-based: for healthy stems and leaves
- Phosphate based: for healthy root
- Potassium based: for a better water balance
Despite the details, you need to understand these are only the primary jobs of these fertilizers; they do have side-effects. So it would be best for your trees if you consult an expert arborist before you go for them.
For the time of drought, however, remember that fertilizer is a poison for your plants. When there is not enough water, the tree roots tend to burn from the salt in the fertilizers.
Conclusion
These tips should take care of your trees if you use them right. Nonetheless, no matter how much you love your trees, your garden, and taking care of them, it certainly is a long, tedious, and time-consuming job. Moreover, regardless of all the tips, when it comes to the real deal of actually working through all this in the garden, it can be confusing and lack of knowledge can spoil your garden rather than helping it. The best idea is always to consult a professional tree-care specialist for every requirement in your ga