Summer can be hard on us all. With high heat and low rainfall in many parts of the U.S., we’re dealing with some unpleasant weather this summer. Nashville is still getting plenty of rain this summer, but it’s been scorching hot. The trees on your property may be struggling with the heat, so let’s review how to spot signs of distress and what you can do to help ensure your trees are healthy during this especially warm summer.
Leaf Scorch
From the sound of it, leaf scorch should be leaf damage directly caused by the hot sun, but it’s not. Instead, the heat is indirectly causing this issue for your trees. Summer tree damage like leaf scorch is actually the result of inadequate water, which is something we often see in drought-prone Nashville summers. Even during rainier summers, leaf scorch can rear its head.
The visible symptoms of leaf scorch are easy to spot, but detecting them early is important to ensure that you can help a tree recover. Look for leaf scorch when the weather is especially dry, but always keep an eye out for this issue. You’ll notice that your leaves are looking like they’re starting to die, similar in appearance to how they may look in the fall. In the early stages of leaf scorch, the outside edges of leaves will turn brown—look along the borders of your trees’ leaves for brown, dry, and crumbly foliage. When unresolved, leaf scorch can turn the entire leaf brown, and it will eventually fall from the tree. Check the grounds of your property for fallen leaves that are either fully or partially brown for an early indicator of leaf scorch.
The best way to treat leaf scorch is to provide more water to your tree. Leaf scorch in the summer is usually due to drought, but other factors can contribute. The roots of a tree manage its water supply. If the soil around the tree is relatively well hydrated, the issue may be with root damage or problems with the trunk of the tree. This can be harder to diagnose and treat on your own. That’s why you should consider consulting a landscaping company in Nashville like The Parke Company, as their expertise can help correctly diagnose a leaf scorch issue early and help you treat it.
Other Leaf Indicators
The leaves of a tree are the best way to determine its overall health, but leaf scorching is just one sign. Other notable signs determine something is going wrong with your tree, and the health of the leaves is your best bet for spotting things early.
In the summer, trees are exposed to a lot of sunlight, which they need to live, converting water and carbon dioxide into food. But that sunlight can be overkill, especially when a tree doesn’t have enough water. Leaves of a malnourished or underwatered tree will visibly change, wilting, shrinking, and turning yellow or brown. Outside of the fall, when deciduous trees naturally shed their leaves, leaf drops are a sign of a stressed tree. If your tree is losing a lot of leaves, and you notice its crown thinning or just dead foliage piling up on your lawn, there’s something wrong.
Spotting Other Summer Tree Issues
Leaves aren’t the only parts of a tree that suffer when dealing with high temperatures and drought. But what are the other symptoms of heat stress in trees?
A good indicator that something is wrong in younger trees is slow growth. You likely won’t notice a lack of growth from a larger, mature tree, but in some cases, you may be able to observe that growth has slowed or halted in newer trees. These trees should have rooted well after planting them, but signs of failure are relatively easy to spot in a tree’s first season. You should never try planting trees in summer heat. Instead, opt for fall or late winter for transplanting in Nashville. If your properly planted tree is struggling (whether that means it’s not growing taller or sprouting leaves), that’s a pretty good indicator that it’s not getting adequate hydration.
On mature trees, you may notice dead limbs or branches in the summer. These are quite visible sometimes, as the leaves on healthy limbs contrast them. If you note dead limbs or visible signs of rot or pest infestation, it could be due to summer heat and dryness. Getting the proper help quickly is the best way to prevent issues like this from leading to the tree’s death. In many cases, early intervention can help put a tree back on the right course, even during the toughest drought.
How to Help Struggling Trees
Now that you know many of the most obvious things to look out for, you’re probably wondering what can be done. Rather than tell you what you should have done, we’re going to focus on what you can do now to help a struggling tree.
The best thing you can do for your trees during signs of heat stress is to call an arborist. Professional tree service landscapers are well-versed in a tree’s complex health system and can give you the proper diagnosis and treatment plan for getting your tree back to good health. Arborists will recognize signs you may miss, and can help you take stock of all the trees on your property that may need help. Since most of the time water is the issue, the solution is often to improve your landscaping’s irrigation. Whether that means introducing a sprinkler system that targets trees (and also can help keep your lawn looking green) or employing a soaker hose directly on the roots of afflicted trees, you have options.
Improving the drainage of your property may also help you deliver much-needed moisture to the trees that need it. In some cases, parts of your landscaping may be too wet and others too dry, which can lead to other issues like mold and fungal growth. Installing drainage systems or improving gutter downspout management can help alleviate problems with a tree’s water supply.
Ultimately, the right fix for your tree comes down to the root cause of its issues. While heat stress and drought conditions common in summer deprive trees of water, other issues like disease, rot, or invasive insect damage can cause similar symptoms. In those cases, extra water won’t help and could actually harm the situation.
Help Your Trees This Summer and Beyond
Expert intervention is the best thing for trees and homeowners alike when summer heat causes problems for your landscaping. Give us a call at The Parke Company today for a free consultation and estimate on how we can help your trees during this difficult season.