Tree care during a drought in Waukesha and other areas
- Water is one of the most important things trees need. Trees take in water by
their roots but many people water the leaves of their trees, creating an
environment for disease. Instead, adjust sprinkler heads down to water the soil.
Some sprinkler heads may need the nozzle changed to a flat spray.
- Do not water near the trunk unless you’ve planted the tree within the last
four or five years. Instead, water the area under the drip-line (edge of the
branches) where the tree’s root system extends.
- Water slowly, this allows water to adhere to soil particles on its way down.
Soaker hoses and drip irrigation work well.
- Mulch is a gardener’s best friend. A three to four inch layer of wood chips
spread on bare ground will reduce water evaporation, insulate roots from heat,
keep the weeds away, and give a home to beneficial microorganisms.
- Avoid over-fertilizing your trees or you may find that sap-sucking insects
such as aphids, white fly and scale are paying you a warm weather visit. Pest
populations, including insects and disease, increase rapidly with warmer
weather. Keep things in balance and you’ll reduce your problems.
- Mature trees: We often take our large trees for granted and forget that they
can decline in health during extended drought. Most people don’t realize the
tree is in trouble because symptoms appear first in the top center portion of
the canopy far from view.
- Do not prune live branches in a severe drought. Removing live tissues forces
the tree to expend energy to defend against the pruning cuts. Removing live
foliage also reduces the capacity of the tree to grow once rains return.
- Do not fertilize trees in extended drought since this pulls water from the
roots and forces the tree to expend precious energy to process the fertilizer.
- Do not dig under the canopy of the tree in drought. Digging under the tree
kills the small roots that absorb water, thus reducing the tree's capacity to
uptake water.
Green Man Tree & Landscape Services
Serving Waukesha and Surrounding areas
414-301-9807
https://thegreenmancompany.com
WaukeshaTree Services, Tree Removal, Mulch, Landscaping and wood products.
All trees & wood by-products removed from your property will be reused to make fine furniture, firewood or re-purposed into high quality compost and soil for gardeners.
