Dry soil conditions can significantly reduce the life span of your valuable landscape trees. Because they are difficult and expensive to replace, your trees need attention during and after periods of drought.
How to Help Your Trees Recover from Drought This Winter
Dry soil conditions can significantly reduce the life span of your valuable landscape trees. Because they are difficult and expensive to replace, your trees need attention during and after periods of drought.
Watch for these Symptoms:
- wilted foliage
- a sparse canopy with stunted leaf growth
- leaf scorch
- yellowing
- leaf defoliation
- premature fall coloration
Closer inspection will reveal limited bud growth and small, poorly formed twigs. Growth for several seasons may be stunted even if there is sufficient rainfall.
There are risks involved when a tree is suffering from a drought, one that comes to mind the is the presents of boring insects, pests and disease alike that puts the tree at risk. For example, elms are susceptible to Dutch elm disease and white-barked birches are more prone to the invasion of the bronze birch borer during drought. While Monterrey pines are more likely to become infested by pine bark beetles during drought.
Irrigation is Key:
Water Adequately!*
In most cases, a tree’s active roots are located on the top 12 inches of the soils surface, a good method for irrigating a tree with sub-surface drip irrigation. Be sure to locate the drip tubing evenly throughout the entire root zone of the tree canopy. Its best to irrigate in the early morning hours before the sun is out.Deep, slow irrigation every ten to fourteen days in the midst of a drought is ideal for established trees and five to seven days during drought for mature trees in areas with 90- to 100-degree temperatures (Fahrenheit). In hotter inland areas, cut the watering intervals as heat cool to 70 to 80 degrees. When watering, keep in mind that the root system of a tree may extend well beyond the outer drip line of the trees canopy id the soil extends. Be water wise and follow local water restrictions as necessary.
For new trees, deep, consistent watering every two to four days is a good practice. There are also a number of “drip products available to keep trees adequately irrigated in a drought.
If grass or ground cover is beneath the, additional irrigation will be necessary because the plant material or grass will consume most of the water. The ideal conditions will provide deep irrigation below the surface roots helping the tree capture the available water. By removing the plant material from underneath the tree and replacing it with organic compost or redwood fir bark, this will improve the trees condition and will help eliminate competition from the adjacent plant material.
Monitoring Soil Moisture.
Remember the soil type and method of water delivery can make a huge impact if applied correctly. Slopes are a big challenge requiring a slow water delivery system in an effort to avoid runoff, sometimes drip or low volume bubblers are used to help in this type of application.. The type of soil also impacts how you should water, for example Clay soils are difficult to water, and water will not infiltrate but puddle if applied too fast. The water surfacing may give one the illusion that sufficient water was applied, but most often than not, only the top layer may be wet but not sufficient for the tree. The irrigation depth in the soil must be monitored by hand with a soil probe. It is always recommended to manually check the soil moisture by probing several inches below the soils surface instead of guessing or relying upon pre-set water schedules.Tare Care 101
Essential tree care during drought includes pest management, irrigation and mulching. Organic mulch, such as organic wood chips or compost, to a depth of 2 inches will help the soil maintain adequate watering. If the soil has a moisture deficit, the mulch will fail; as there is not sufficient moisture to retain. Inorganic mulch, like pea gravel or decomposed granite, also helps the soil retain moisture, but it may not be as successful as wood chips or mulch.
Heavy pruning should be avoided during severe drought, as this can trigger additional tree stress which can make the tree vulnerable to pests and disease pathogens. Some pruning may be necessary for structure clearance, sign visibility or for cosmetic reasons, one should be careful not to remove large branches over 1-1/2” in diameter. A diluted fertilization with a slow release fertilizer can be performed, but will have a limiting effect during drought conditions, as water is limited and will not translocate the fertilizer. Fast nitrogen type fertilizers like ammonium nitrate should be avoided at all costs, as they will have a counterproductive effect on the tree. Relocating trees or Planting trees should be done cautiously and supervised by a certified arborist, especially during drought conditions.
Obama Announced Aid for Drought Stricken California
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