Preventing Heat Stress in Trees, Shrubs & Lawns
Heat stress is a common issue in the summer that can affect your trees, shrubs, and lawn. As the temperatures rise and stay elevated for extended periods, your trees and shrubs can lose water faster than they can take it in. This can eventually lead to the death of the trees, shrubs, or your entire lawn. Therefore, it’s essential to understand how to prevent heat stress to keep your lawn healthy and thriving even in the extreme summer heat.
Signs of Heat Stress in Trees, Shrubs & Lawns
Signs of heat stress in trees and shrubs include wilted or drooping branches, browning foliage, and distorted leaf shapes. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to act quickly to relieve the stress. Fortunately, there are also proactive measures you can take to help prevent heat stress before it starts.
Deep Watering Is Essential in the Summer
Watering your trees, shrubs, and lawn is important, but it’s also crucial to make sure you’re watering correctly. During the summer heat, deep watering is especially beneficial, as it ensures moisture reaches the root zone where it’s needed most. Also known as deep root watering, this method involves saturating the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches. Doing so supports larger plants, such as trees, by reaching their deeper roots and promoting strong root development. As a result, your trees and shrubs become more resilient, better equipped to absorb nutrients, and more capable of withstanding heat and drought.
Tips for Deep Watering
Deep watering should be done slowly to ensure the water is fully absorbed into the soil and reaches the plant’s roots. It’s also important to monitor soil moisture levels to determine when another deep watering is needed. Generally, this type of watering is infrequent, typically occurring once every one to two weeks, depending on factors such as soil type, plant size, and weather conditions.
Mulching Helps Prevent Heat Stress
Mulching is another way to help protect your trees and shrubs from heat stress. Mulch creates a protective layer on the surface, allowing the soil to retain moisture and reducing evaporation. Additionally, mulch serves as an insulating layer, helping to minimize heat absorption into the ground and regulate soil temperature.
Heat-Resistant Fertilization Treatments
While fertilization is not generally recommended if your trees and shrubs are already heat stressed, tree fertilization and lawn fertilization in the spring or early summer is a proactive step that can help prevent heat stress in the hotter months. Organic treatments can help improve plant strength, encourage healthy root growth, and help your trees and shrubs tolerate the heat.
Get the Tree, Shrub & Lawn Care You Need
At North Eastern Tree, Shrub, and Lawn Care, we are pleased to offer a wide range of services to keep your trees, shrubs, and lawns healthy and thriving all year long. Whether you’re planning for the hot summer months or are looking for ongoing lawn care, you can find the services and solutions that meet your needs with North Eastern Tree, Shrub, and Lawn Care. Our certified arborists provide tailored solutions to keep commercial and residential landscapes in excellent shape. Contact us today to learn more about our tree, shrub, and lawn care services in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
