Summer is upon us, and temperatures are about to soar. As things heat up, shade becomes critical both in your backyard living space and around your home. However, the only way to have an abundance of shade is to take care of the mature trees in your yard and ensure they can live up to the job. Hometown Tree Experts are here with tree care tips for the summer to make the most of your shade.
Tree Care Tips for the Summer
If you want to keep things cool and shady in your backyard, you definitely need to ensure that the mature trees around your home are thriving. Part of this includes troubleshooting for disease, pests, and any structural weaknesses. Here are some tips to proactively care for the shade trees in your yard.
Know how to spot tree diseases. Knowing how to identify tree diseases can help you prevent tree death (and the cost of having to replace one). Signs of tree diseases include:
- Wilting or yellowing leaves (especially outside of fall or if your tree is evergreen)
- Dying leaves or needles
- Spots or blemishes on the leaves or bark
- Holes in the leaves
- Moldy-looking patches on the leaves or bark
- Dead or drooping branches
- Leaning in one direction
If you think you’re seeing signs of tree diseases in your shade trees, immediately contact an expert tree service company like Hometown Tree Experts. Prompt care can revive your tree back to its former glory (and save you time and money).
Ensure your shade tree is getting enough water. Summer heat can damage or even kill your tree if you’re not careful, so ensure your trees are getting enough water throughout the season. If you notice a drought, deep water your tree with a hose for a few minutes to ensure health and growth – you should see water pooling around the base. Shallow watering can actually encourage shallow roots, which isn’t good for tree health.
Engage in routine tree care. In addition to watering and monitoring your shade trees, you should also consider fertilizing them, especially if they’re young. Fertilizing is an important part of tree care to encourage growth.
Prune and trim your shade trees. Another critical part of tree care is pruning and trimming your trees. Think of it like a haircut – if you routinely trim your hair, it’s healthier. It continues to not only grow, but also look good. The same principle applies to your shade trees. Here are some pruning tips to add to your tree care arsenal:
- If your shade tree is younger than five years, you may need to prune a little more than you’d think. Trim back branches that rub, as well as branches that create weak or narrow spots. You should also prune back branches on the bottom third of the tree. This is the prime time for shaping your tree.
- If your shade tree is older than five years, it’s well-established and doesn’t need as much of this type of tree care. You should trim damaged or diseased branches, as well as any branches that are rubbing. Further, prune to encourage better branch spacing as the tree continues to grow.
Not sure how to safely prune your trees? Bring in an expert tree service.
Remove diseased or dead trees. We get it – it’s disappointing to lose a tree. However, scheduling tree removal service for diseased or dead trees is beneficial in the long run. A diseased tree can spread disease to the other shade trees in your yard, leading to more tree death (and more money out of your pocket). A dead tree can damage other trees, your home, and your living space. You should never try to remove a tree yourself – schedule a professional tree removal service to ensure the tree is safely and properly removed from your yard.
Schedule Summer Tree Care for Your Shade Trees Today
Think your shade trees could use a little help before summer truly arrives? Contact Hometown Tree Experts today.