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Our Lush, Spring Trees are Thirsty Amid this July Heat Wave!

How you can help spot your community’s stressed, thirsty trees and give them the water they need to restore their Spring Vigor

                Some of our GTA tree canopies may be experiencing a little bit of stress lately with the scorching arrival of July’s record breaking heat wave. Spring’s rainy arrival has been squelched by summer’s blistering temperatures and now our once lush trees are withering under the pressure. Throughout the GTA, especially in the more recently developed residential communities, tree leaves are turning yellow, drooping and even falling off. This is a protective mechanism since trees lose moisture through transpiration on their leaves. The leaves droop in an effort to create a smaller surface area to lose the moisture from. You can help spot and soothe your stressed trees by following these recommendations:

  • Look for trees that are yellow in color or look ‘scorched’ with a red outline that have drooping branches and/or already experienced a loss of leaves
  • Water trees with a soaker hose or another hose with a low flow. This way the water can soak in rather than just run off the surface
  • Place two 20 litre buckets and drill holes in the bottom of the tree. Buckets can then be placed next to the tree and filled with water. The water will seep through the holes to the feeder roots, which are often located a small distance away from the trunk
  • Do not prune tree branches on your own. Even if the leaves have fallen, the branch could still be alive and possibly bud new leaves later in the summer. Contact a qualified arborist for any pruning or questions.
  • Ensure to water close to the drip line. The drip line being the edge of a tree’s canopy on the ground all the way around the tree

Older trees in well-established areas will be able to withstand the heat better than younger trees planted within two to three years in recently developed areas. Older trees have a well-established root system, whereas young trees are planted in areas that lack the organic matter that retains the moisture trees need to flourish. Our communities are designed to get rid of water quickly, so it’s challenging for trees to get enough of the H20. If you require the services of a professional and dedicated arborist, contact Rooted Tree Services and we will be more than happy to answer any of your questions or send over a qualified arborist for a free estimation on any of your tree care needs.