Tips To Help Your Trees Beat The Summer Heat

As we hit mid-summer the hot days of July and August are looming ahead. Luckily we get to cool off in our air-conditioned homes, pools, and beach vacations but our trees never get a chance to escape the heat. As a homeowner, there are a few things you can do to help your tree get a break from the heat and stay healthy all summer.

Symptoms of Heat Stress In Trees:

When temperatures climb above 90 degrees tree start to show signs of summer heat stress.

Drooping and wilting leaves and branches
Yellowing or browning of trees leaves/needles
Rust-colored spots or bumps
Dropping leaves

How Can You Help Your Trees Beat The Heat?

1) Water A Lot But Not TOO Much.

In one day, a large tree can lift up to 100 gallons of water out of the ground if the water is available. And like humans, the hotter it is the more water trees and shrubs need. But overwatering can also have a negative effect on trees, essentially drowning their roots. Take a look at our tips below to make sure your tree is getting the right amount of water it needs to survive these heat waves

Watering Tips For Summer:

- Focus on the critical root zone when watering. Wetting foliage is a waste of water and can promote the spread of diseases.
- DON’T use a sprinkler. This only wets the top layer of soil and doesn’t properly water the tree.
- Water in the morning to avoid evaporation and to help trees deal with the heat throughout the day.
- Water deeply and thoroughly 1 to 2 times a week.
  - Put your normal hose somewhere in the critical root zone.
  - Turn hose on to a dribble
  - Leave for 2-3 hours
  - Move the hose to a different spot in the critical root zone and leave for 2-3 hours. Repeat this step 1-3 times.
- You want the soil to be moist but not soaking. You should NOT be able to make a mud ball out of the soil.
- It’s okay for some portions of the soil to be wet and some to be dry.

2) Mulch Your Tree

Mulching is one of the best techniques to protect your trees & shrubs from the heat. Mulch creates a layer of insulation that retains moisture and keeps the roots temperate.

Mulching Tips For Summer:

- Mulch 1 to 3 inches deep
- Keep the mulch from touching the trunk of the tree
- Spread mulch to a diameter of at least 3 feet
- Ideally, spread mulch out to the edge of the tree’s crown
- DO NOT CREATE A MULCH VOLCANO!

3) Monitor For Insects & Diseases

While your tree is busy trying to fight the summer heat, insects and diseases that are active in summer can target your tree. Because your tree is stressed from the heat it will have a harder time fighting off these insects and diseases and will most likely incur a lot of damage if you don’t step in.

Keep a close eye on your trees for signs of borers, spider mites, Japanese beetles, aphids, bagworms, and scale.

Common symptoms of summer insects/diseases to look out for include:

defoliation
drooping leaves
yellow spots
honeydew/sooty mold
premature leaf drop
twig dieback
webbing
cone-shaped brown bags hanging from trees
cankers on tree trunks

4) Consider A Tree Growth Regulator

Tree growth regulators utilize three techniques to help make your tree drought resistant.

First, it gently slows the growth of the tree. Second, it develops thicker waxy cuticle (coating) & a thicker epidermis (skin) that is densely covered with fine hairs. These two techniques help reduce water loss in a tree. Lastly, it reallocates energy from new leaf growth to fine feeder root growth. This helps the tree absorb more water.

The tree growth regulator also allows you to prune less often and reduce costs related to watering and fertilizing. On the aesthetic side, the leaves of trees treated with tree growth regulator tend to be greener than untreated trees. One treatment will last up to 3 years.

5) Choose Drought Resistant Trees Next Time

If you’re planning to plant new trees this fall, look for drought-resistant species. This will help you save money on your watering bill while still allowing your tree to thrive in hot temperatures.

We recommend the following drought tolerant trees:

ginko
eastern redbud
crepe myrtle
elm
hackberry
hawthorn
honey locust
leyland cypress
oak
red maple
sassafras
sumac

6) Schedule Your Fall Fertilization.

Once your fall comes your trees are going to be tired from battling the heat during the summer months. Providing your trees with Bio-stimulants will help them recover from the summer heat and prepare them for their long winter nap.

Think your tree has heat stress? Call one of our Certified Arborists 703-573-3029 or book an appointment online today.

Grey Burkhart

March 29, 2022.

Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.

Dennis Bruns

March 8, 2022.

We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.

Annette Iannucci

February 23, 2022.

We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.

Susan Crawford

January 26, 2022.

RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.

Kenton Morgan

January 20, 2022.

Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.

Jean Kluttz

January 3, 2022.

Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.

Jerry Haggin

December 16, 2021.

Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.

Mike Iger

David Roberts

December 15, 2021.

We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.

Travis Larson

December 10, 2021.

RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.