Tips and care for watering trees during a drought.
- Trees can be very delicate to work around during droughts as they are more susceptible to the elements, stressors, and diseases than usual. Drought tolerance can vary from species to species, and even from tree to tree.
- During a prolonged drought, this time frame may be extended as water loss may occur through open wounds. Be cautious when mowing around a tree as a mower can kick up objects that can penetrate a tree’s bark and leave a wound that can lose water or allow insects and diseases to enter the tree. Avoid using equipment on the tree, such as a weed eater, as it can further damage the bark and integrity of a tree. Monitor your tree for signs of stress.
- Relying on a single sign or symptom isn’t enough to determine drought stress. Generally, you should look for brown leaf tips, yellow or wilting foliage, significant leaf drop, curled or shriveled leaves, and undersized or misshaped leaves. However, just because your tree may be showing these signs does not mean that your tree is dying.
- A good way to make sure a tree is still alive is to scrape a small branch with a knife or your finger and check for green. Be careful not to scrape off too much as you can cause further stress on the tree.
- For larger and mature trees, or if you have any questions regarding your tree’s overall health, contact your regional urban forester/woodland ecologist or a local certified arborist.
Article source and photo credit: Texas A&M Forest Service
