It’s late September, and your trees are quickly losing their foliage – weeks ahead of the expected fall leaf drop. Before panic sets in, look carefully at the bark and the leaves for signs of disease or insect infestation. If nothing jumps out at you, it may simply be heat stress. When feeling the stress of prolonged heat (and let’s face it, we’ve all been there!), many trees try to save energy by dropping their leaves early.
If your tree is young, the only therapy needed may be a respite from the scorching sun and a bit of extra water. We often recommend sheeting plants to shield them from a cold snap, but a makeshift sheet tent can also provide much needed shade for a struggling sapling.
Trees need to be watered from the trunk out to the dripline, so draw an imaginary circle around it and make certain it gets deep watering within that zone. In that area, most trees have a network of roots that specialize in moisture intake, so they’re waiting for you to give them a good drink. Turning the hose to a very low drip and moving it around in that circle is a great treatment for your tree and it should come back happy and vigorous in the spring.
Book your 30-minute free consultation now by calling Kathleen at Gardens by La Voy.
707.753.1445
