It is no secret that the long, hot summer days are among us. As humans, we are advised to take it easy, keep cool and save any yard work for early morning or late in the evening. Most importantly, we are reminded to keep ourselves hydrated!

We do a great job of this for our family, friends and pets, but what about our beautiful trees? It's important to take steps to keep them healthy and hydrated, too.

A question we get asked often is "How much water should I give my tree?" While there is not one sure answer, the best way to know when to water is to check the soil moisture at 6 inches below the surface. If the soil is dry, it's time to water the tree. For trees planted within 3 years, provide about 1-1/2 gallons of water per diameter inch of the trunk.

“Deep watering is even more important for trees, because you want the roots to grow down deeper into that moist soil. Once a week is sufficient, but you want to water at a slow trickle from your hose. Watering with the hose on full blast is going to cause all that water to run off rather than infiltrate that soil.”

As the hot days continue, there are some measures we can take to make trees more drought-tolerant and to reduce the long-term effects of prolonged dry conditions.

Always protect tree trunks, especially young trees, from mechanical damage such as string trimmers, lawn mowers and other equipment. Preventing damage to the bark and wood at the base of the tree maintains a continuous ring of water and food transporting tissues.
Reduce competition for available moisture with other plant materials such as turf, shrubs, and groundcovers by removing plants and adding mulch.
Mulch trees! Mulch works as an excellent temperature regulator, keeping the water in and the heat out. Be sure to replenish throughout the year as the mulch decomposes or is displaced. This will help reduce moisture loss through evaporation and moderate soil temperatures.

Browning Tree Service employs Joshua Browning ISA certified arborist license #KY-9849A who is a proud member of Indiana Arborist Association and International Society of Arboriculture, serving the West Lafayette and Lafayette, Indiana area!

Resources:
https://ag.purdue.edu/news/2022/06/keeping-plants-happy-through-heat-waves.html
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/fnr/fnr-483-w.pdf
https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/files/fo-TreeGuideForHomeowners1209.pdf