What to do for potentially damaged trees.

In the past year we have seen some pretty extreme weather patterns. The heat of last summer and the dryness of the winter had many people concerned about the potential damage to the root systems of our trees. The damage appears to be farther reaching than we had expected. Unfortunately, we have seen mature and well established trees succumbing as much as the more vulnerable newly transplanted trees.

Stressed trees often have significant branch die back and are very slow to produce leaves in the spring. The major difference between a tree that has the potential to survive and a tree that will soon die is how well it maintains the leaf tissue after it is produced. Ideally, we want trees to develop full canopies, but in seasons like we are having we should just be happy if the tree can bring the leaf tissue to full size and keep it in the tree and on the branches until fall.

If the tree develops some small (1/2” in diameter and smaller) deadwood we should not be concerned. With some conscientious care, a slightly stressed tree should have a very good chance for a full recovery. The biggest mistake a homeowner can make when they notice stress in their plant material is to arbitrarily apply “some extra water” or “tossing some fertilizer down”. These decisions can further damage a stressed root system and push a tree further into decline. Many factors need to be considered when evaluating stress and developing a management plan for trees. A few of these factors include the severity of stress condition, tree species, and the various site and soil conditions. Our Arborists are available to help you assess your landscape issues.