Summer Tree Care: Watering Tips For Healthy Trees in Olympia, WA

With July now upon us, it’s important to protect the trees on your property by making sure they have enough water. Under watered trees or trees exposed to excessively dry conditions are more likely to develop problems over time. Young and newly planted trees are especially susceptible. Older trees, on the other hand, are less fragile but still need proper care and watering to ensure their root systems stay healthy. That’s why the certified arborist at Westcoast Tree Care would like to provide you with the following tips when it comes to watering your trees this summer.  

Consistency is Key

All living things require water to survive and trees are no different. During the summer, it’s especially important to water your trees on a regular schedule to keep them healthy and beautiful.

For younger trees, our certified arborist recommends a deep-watering by running a garden hose over the root zone for approximately 30 seconds. The idea is to reach the full depth of the roots and maintain damp but not soggy soil. Older, more mature trees, on the other hand, should be watered at least once a week or every other week during the hot summer months (depending on how well the soil retains moisture). A good rule of thumb is to provide an older tree with around 10 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter. Keep in mind, however, it’s important not to overwater, as it can drown the tree roots which can hurt the tree. Signs of overwatering include a puddle after watering, yellow leaves, wilting, brittle green leaves or fungus. If your soil is wet and you notice any of these signs, you may be over watering your trees.

Water At The Right Time

You wouldnt water your grass during the heat of the day and the same rule applies to your trees. In fact, the best time to water your trees is during the early morning or after the sun goes down. By watering during the cooler parts of the day, your trees have a better chance at absorbing as much water as possible without wasting a precious drop.

Add Mulch To Retain Moisture

Adding mulch (2-4 inches deep) around the base of your trees is a good way to keep them healthy. Mulch helps the soil to retain moisture while supporting and protecting young trees from the hot summer sun. This, in turn, will keep your trees cooler while preventing moisture loss from evaporation and improve soil conditions.

Contact Westcoast Tree Care

At Westcoast Tree Care, we work hard to provide you with the best tree care services as possible. Whether you would like more information on summer watering tips or require any of our preventative tree care services, we are the professionals to trust. Our certified arborist would be more than happy to walk your property and provide you with a no-cost, no obligation quote.

Contact us at 1.800.767.8733 today!