Early Leaf Drop: A Sign of Summer Stress
This year, many of us have noticed that trees are shedding their leaves earlier than usual. The culprit? A combination of intense summer heat waves and prolonged drought conditions.
When trees experience extreme heat and lack of water, they go into survival mode. To conserve moisture, they may drop their leaves prematurely. This early leaf drop is a natural defense mechanism, but it's also a sign that our trees are under significant stress.
If you see this happening in your area, consider giving your trees some extra care. Deep watering during dry spells and mulching around the base can help retain soil moisture and protect roots. Let's keep our trees healthy and resilient as we navigate these challenging weather patterns.
---
Deep watering is a technique where you water the soil slowly and deeply, so the water penetrates down to the root zone of the tree. Instead of frequent shallow watering, deep watering encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil, making the tree more drought-resistant. To do this, water the base of the tree for a longer period, ensuring the water seeps down at least 12 inches into the soil. This method is especially helpful during dry spells to keep your trees healthy.