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Don’t let the extremely wet spring and recent rains fool you. It is already drying out more than you may think. With the recent hot temperatures and quick thunderstorms most of the water tends to run off. Most recommendations for watering trees and plants call for the equivalent of 1 inch of rain per week. I have already witnessed plant material struggling due to lack of moisture. The first thing I check on a struggling plant is the planting depth, the amount of mulch or soil on top of the root ball and the amount of moisture in the root zone. Proper planting and watering are the best defense for most problems we see in the landscape. Whenever possible, identify the root zone on your plant material and only apply 1 to 2 inches of mulch over the root zone. Thoroughly soak at least once a week.
If history repeats itself like last year, we had a pretty severe drought towards the end of the summer of 2019. We lost a lot of plant material due to the extremely dry conditions. One plant that we saw having a lot of problems last year during the drought was the Emerald Green Arborvitae, this variety seemed to have the most casualties during last year’s drought. Recently planted trees and shrubs are also very vulnerable during hot, dry periods.
Pictured here is a dead Emerald Green Arborvitae due to extremely dry conditions in the fall of 2019.
Another thing to check on struggling plant material would be to check for girdling roots which unfortunately has become a major problem in today’s landscape. On small plant material this can be accomplished with careful digging and washing soil away from the root system to check for roots that are circling the tree and possibly strangling itself. The most damaging of these roots should be removed to help improve the root structure moving forward. For larger trees this can be accomplished with an instrument called an Air Spade. This procedure is usually completed in the fall or early spring to remove damaging roots when it has the least amount of impact on the tree itself. The air spade quickly removes soil from the roots using air pressure making it easy to identify girdling roots. In extreme cases the offending roots may need to be removed in stages over a couple of years to avoid over stressing the plant.
In summary it is very important to remember that what you see above ground often mimics what is happening underground. Take the time to make sure your trees are planted properly and keep them watered.
Mike McKee | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
Mike graduated from Hocking College in 1983 with a degree in Natural Resources specializing in urban tree care. He has been a certified arborist since 1991. Mike started his career in the private industry in 1985 before becoming a municipal arborist in1989. He retired after serving thirty years before joining us at Russell Tree Experts in Sept. of 2018. His love of trees has never waned since trying to climb up the ridges of the massive Cottonwood tree in front of his childhood home.