Keep Your Trees Safe from Summer Storms!

Summer storms can wreak havoc on your landscape. As the tallest and most prominent features in your yard, trees often get the brunt of the damage. The good news is there are steps you can take now to protect your trees against severe weather through the summer season and beyond.

Keep Your Trees Healthy

Sturdy, well-maintained trees will fare best through high winds and other stormy conditions. This is why you’ll want to make sure you’re caring for your trees year-round, as a little frequent TLC can go a long way in keeping your trees healthy.

Most mature trees get adequate water through rainfall, but extended droughts can compromise even the healthiest root systems. If your area is experiencing a heat wave, be sure to provide water for both new and established trees.

Mulching is another tactic that can keep your trees in great shape. It’s a simple yet effective way to lock moisture in around the root system, but it also keeps other issues at bay. From pests to invasive weeds, many issues can be avoided by mulching around the base of your tree every spring and fall. Aim for three to four inches of depth.

Remove Problem Branches

Of course, one of the biggest threats on your property during storm season is a dead or damaged branch that could come down with heavy gusts. The importance of routine trimming and pruning cannot be overstated when it comes to keeping your home safe. While you may be able to remove small, low-lying branches on your own, any larger branches warrant professional help.

Although winter is the ideal time for pruning – when new growth is halted and you’re less likely to injure the tree – problem branches shouldn’t wait. Pruning removes at-risk limbs, including those that are damaged by disease. Since these branches have little to no healthy bark, they’re more vulnerable and thus more likely to come down during a storm.

To an untrained eye, it’s not always possible to tell which branches pose a threat. If you’re unsure whether you might need professional pruning, we’ll be happy to perform an inspection. We’ll make sure your trees are stormproof so your property stays safe through severe summer storms.

In the Event of Storm Damage

Sometimes, all the safeguards in the world are still no match for Mother Nature. Living in an area prone to tropical storms and hurricanes, we’re all unfortunately likely to experience weather-related damage at one point or another. If your property has been hit hard by a summer storm, we’re here to help.

Hurricane-force winds can uproot trees that have stood healthy for years. They can also bend and twist trunks, causing internal damage to the tree’s structure. Whether you have a single tree that needs to be removed or you have a yard full of heavy branches, trust our team to get the job done. We offer prompt and thorough storm recovery services to get your lawn looking its best again. We can also assess your property for hidden damage to trees and their root systems that may need to be addressed.

No matter what your tree care needs entail this summer, turn to Premier Tree Solutions for expert services delivered by certified arborists. Our detail-oriented team will treat your property as if it’s our own, providing the best level of care for your trees and surrounding grounds. To schedule a tree consultation, call 404-252-6448 or reach out to us online.

How to Keep Your Trees Cool

Scorching summer days are right around the corner. While many of us retreat beneath a shady canopy for a break from the heat, we often overlook the toll hot weather can take on our favorite shade-giving trees. Long periods of heat and direct sunlight can have a serious impact on your trees, so here’s what you should know about keeping them cool through the coming season.

Know the Signs of Heat Stress

Heat stress occurs when trees lose water faster than it can be replaced. Under normal circumstances, trees absorb water from the atmosphere through their leaves and branches, as well as from the soil via their root system. During extreme heat, however, the transpiration process accelerates, and trees lose water at a faster pace. Periods of drought can make the issue even worse.

Signs of heat stress include wilting leaves, internal leaves becoming yellowed, an inability to produce new growth, scorching, dropping leaves, and brown or red spots on leaves. The best way to prevent any of these heat stress symptoms is to keep that damaging heat stress from happening in the first place.

How to Keep Your Trees Cool in Hot Weather

Provide Adequate Water

Most established trees can weather droughts, but you can minimize the risk of heat stress by giving them a soak at least once a month. Be sure to water at the drip line, or the edge of the canopy, which is where most of the trees’ roots will be concentrated. If you don’t have a drip irrigation system set up, direct a garden hose to the area at a low flow.

For young trees (those that have been in the ground for three years or fewer), double up on your normal watering routine during periods of intense heat. Many new trees need 15 gallons of water at least twice a week if the temperature is 90 degrees or higher for an extended time. Water either in the early morning or after sunset to reduce evaporation. Provide water slowly using a slow-release watering bag, drip system, or trickling hose directed at the roots for up to 20 minutes.

Remove Dead Branches

Summertime isn’t the ideal season for pruning, as it’s best to do this when trees are dormant. But if they have seriously compromised branches, address them promptly. Doing so will keep your property safe through summer storms, while also ensuring all the water and nutrients are reserved for healthy growth.

Mulch Around Your Trees

We often think of mulching as a method for retaining heat to protect roots in cold weather — but it can have a similarly beneficial effect in summer, too. Mulch can help your trees’ roots retain moisture during droughts, and provide a buffer against extreme heat. If you haven’t already done so this year, be sure to apply fresh mulch around your trees before the hottest days arrive.

Incorporate Shade

While it’s true that trees provide shade for people, some smaller varieties could benefit from shade themselves. Air beneath trees can be as much as six degrees cooler than air in the direct sun, or even 25 degrees cooler than the air directly above asphalt. Plant deciduous trees with sprawling canopies to the south of any smaller trees or shrubs you’d like to protect from the sun. Maples and oaks are a few of our favorite species to consider.

For healthy trees year-round, turn to Premier Tree Solutions for top-notch care from certified arborists. Our team can help maintain your landscape through trimming and pruning, storm damage cleanup, and care for diseased or damaged trees. Call us at 404-252-6448 for an expert tree consultation or by sending us a message online.