3 Ways to Keep Your Trees Healthy and Safe during Extreme Heat

Periods of high heat can put your trees at serious risk of dying, but with the right preemptive care, you can make sure they stay safe during heat waves. It can help to water with the right methods, use mulch, and ask a tree care specialist if you think your trees need pruning.

Give Some Extra Water

Trees will need more water when the weather is at its hottest. One rule of thumb is to use about ten gallons of water for every one inch of the tree's diameter.

Beyond that, the method is important as well. Water your trees slowly to ensure that the water sinks deep into the soil rather than flowing away. It also helps to water in the early morning or in the evening during times when temperatures are cooler and the sun isn't high in the sky. This helps prevent water from being lost to evaporation. You can use a drip line for this, or you can turn on a hose at low pressure.

Try to keep the soil consistently moist—not too wet, and not too dry. Keeping track of the state of the soil is a good way to let you know when it's time to start watering again. Take care especially with newer trees, as they tend to need more water, and sometimes more often. If you have new trees and aren't sure what they might need, ask a tree care specialist; they can help you come up with an effective watering schedule.

Add Mulch

Mulch has several benefits to trees, one of which is that it helps hold in moisture and prevent it from being lost to evaporation. Wood chips are a great addition since they hold in so much water.

Mulch should be added so that it doesn't stifle the tree's roots and so it is spread over a wide enough area to effectively help the roots belowground. A professional can help you add mulch to your soil so your trees get the best benefit from it. This is especially true for younger and newer trees which may still be stressed from recent planting.

Consult Professionals for Pruning

Pruning is an important part of regular tree care, but doing it during the hottest months of the year can leave your tree more stressed or put it at a higher risk of complications. If you think your trees need pruning, such as if they're starting to touch your house or if they are starting to lean, a professional is your best bet for a safe pruning job. Since there are many different pruning and trimming techniques, they can choose the ones appropriate for the type of tree you have, how old and established it is, and how the weather might affect its health after a pruning job.

Since this is more major work compared to watering methods and adding mulch, consult a professional residential tree care service before making any final pruning decisions.

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