Trees Suffer During Prolonged Drought
Dryer than normal conditions straddled much of the nation during the summer of 2010, including the Mid-Hudson Valley. Under normal circumstances, trees need an inch of rain a week. That is approximately 60 gallons of water per tree, or 12 five-gallon buckets. During long periods of drought, even established trees can suffer.
Signs of Drought Stress
- Wilting Leaves
- Premature leaf drop
- Browning or dingy color of foliage
- Bark splitting or cracking
What can you do?
There are actions you can take to help keep your trees healthy during these hot and dry summer months. Proper summer fertilization, mulching, and deep root watering can help to combat the effects of drought and stress.
Integral's customized fertilization services are designed to stimulate root development to help trees and shrubs through periods of stress. By injecting a mix of nutrients, humic acid, and beneficial microorganisms directly into the root zone, our fertilization helps to build a denser, healthier root system. This, in turn, helps trees to tolerate drought and make the most of any available water in the soil. In addition, trees with healthier root systems are less susceptible to disease and insect problems, winter injury, and other environmental factors.
Please remember that lawn fertilizers, water-soluble "blue" fertilizers, and most home center products contain a high percentage of nitrogen. These products are not designed for trees and can actually do more harm than good!
We also offer mulching, deep root watering, and water tank drop off services to help your trees through this tough period.
What should you do next?
Integral Tree and Landscape arborists can assess your landscape situation and draft a plan to keep your valuable landscape plantings healthy and thriving. We can help you select drought-resistant trees and shrubs to plant. We can also provide watering.
Integral Tree and Landscape
2010
