Generally speaking, summer weather consists of extremely hot conditions and sometimes periods of drought. This can cause major issues for trees. Not ensuring the proper maintenance of your trees can result in poor growth and even your trees dying. Knowing what your trees need to survive and excel is crucial.
Here are some tips of how you can keep your trees hydrated in summer:
Know when to water them
Knowing when and how to water your trees is imperative, and especially how much water your trees need to survive. Since temperatures are cooler in the morning, it’s best to water your trees in the early hours of the morning. The evaporation levels are less in the morning since there is less heat, so the maximum amount of water will be transferred to the roots instead of evaporating. If watering your trees in the morning is not a viable option, it’s best to wait until late afternoon. on. This however has to be done before the evening so that the leaves can dry up before the cold temperatures at night, otherwise, the trees could be susceptible to various fungi.
Provide your trees with the proper amount of water
The amount of water that you provide to your trees will determine their success rate. Excessive amounts can harm and drown the roots of the trees. If your tree has too much water, it will struggle to breathe. Insufficient water can dehydrate your trees and kill them. If trees are provided with excessive or insufficient water, they are most likely to be vulnerable to attacks by bugs and other pests. It is a meticulous balance between sufficient and insufficient quantities. Generally speaking, in summer you have to water your trees three times as much as you would water your lawn. Newly planted trees require a minimum of the standard three times per week requirement. Since the roots of the trees still need to grow and be fully established during the first few months, the soil needs to be kept moist. It is imperative that the soil is kept moist to ensure proper growth and development. Fully grown trees with deeply established root systems require deep, soaking irrigation. Different tree species will require different amounts of water. You can determine exactly how much water is required by checking the moisture of the soil below the surface. If your soil is dry, you may need to water your trees more frequently. If your soil is soggy, you may need to reduce your watering levels. Preferably, your soil should not be dry or soggy, but moist.
Make sure that you are using the proper tools
The overwatering and underwatering of trees can be commonly attributed to using incorrect watering tools. Although overhead sprinklers are easy to use, it is not the ideal method for watering trees since they lose so much water through evaporation. A garden hose is the most effective way of watering trees. It provides you with total control while allowing the water to soak into the roots of each tree. Unlike a sprinkler, you can also closely monitor where the water goes. Soaker hoses are also an effective option since they function at low pressure, and at an even water volume. Water from soaker hoses go directly to the root system reducing the water evaporation levels and the possibility of fungi on the tree leaves. Another option is drip irrigation systems since they are cheap and easy to use.
Use mulch
Mulch is a layer of organic material applied to the surface of soil. It is most commonly made of tree barks, wood chips, pine straw, grass clippings, leaves, and sometimes other substances such as newspaper, manure and compost. Mulch is highly beneficial especially when it comes to trees. It insulates the soil from the extremely hot temperatures. It retains water very well ensuring that the roots are kept moist. Mulch also prevents the process of soil compaction thus reducing the possibility of the soil drying up. It is crucial that the mulch does not touch the trunk of the tree as it could prevent the water from reaching the roots. It’s best to remove the grass within several millimetres of the tree trunk then add mulch to that area and at the base of the tree. Mulch also helps with preventing weeds thus reducing root competition. Using mulch is a simple and cost-effective way of ensuring that your trees remain hydrated.
These are just a few tips of how you can keep your trees hydrated this coming summer. If you are looking to purchase any new trees for your landscape project, visit www.justtrees.co.za and we’ll help you select the best trees for your environment.