Summer is the perfect season for enjoying your garden, but hours of sunshine, high temperatures, and dry spells can put trees under significant stress. Following a few simple summer tree care maintenance tips can help keep your landscape healthy throughout the summer. Here are seven expert tree care tips to protect your trees during hot weather.
1. Water trees properly
One of the biggest mistakes people make when caring for their trees in hot weather is watering little and often. Instead, trees benefit from deep, infrequent watering that encourages roots to grow further into the soil.
Young trees should be watered thoroughly once or twice a week during long dry periods, while mature trees generally only need additional watering during exceptionally hot weather. A top summer tree care tip is to water early in the morning or late in the evening to minimise evaporation.
2. Apply mulch around the base
Adding a layer of organic mulch around the base of your trees helps retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds that compete for water. Spread 5cm to 10cm of mulch around the root zone but leave a small gap around the trunk to prevent moisture build-up and reduce the risk of rot.
3. Watch for signs of heat stress
Hot weather can cause trees to show signs of stress, including:
- Wilting or curling leaves
- Premature leaf drop
- Brown leaf edges
- Sparse new growth
If you notice these symptoms, increasing deep watering and checking the soil moisture can often help. However, severe symptoms may require a professional assessment to rule out disease or root damage.
4. Avoid heavy tree pruning
Summer isn’t usually the best time for major tree pruning unless it’s necessary for safety reasons or to remove dead, damaged or diseased branches. Heavy pruning during hot weather can place additional stress on a tree, expose branches to the sun and encourage excessive new growth that may struggle during dry conditions. If you’re unsure whether you should prune your trees in summer, a great summer tree care tip is to consult a qualified tree surgeon and arrange a tree inspection.
5. Check trees after summer storms
While summer often brings sunshine, it can also produce sudden thunderstorms and strong winds. After severe weather, inspect your trees for hanging branches, cracks, split limbs, or signs of instability. Damaged branches should be dealt with promptly to reduce safety risks and prevent further structural problems.
6. Keep an eye out for pests and disease
Warm weather creates favourable conditions for many tree pests and fungal diseases. For excellent summer tree care, regularly inspect leaves, bark and branches for unusual holes, discolouration, fungal growth, or insect activity. Early detection allows problems to be treated before they become more serious and helps protect other trees in your garden.
7. Arrange professional tree inspections
Healthy-looking trees can still develop hidden structural weaknesses or disease, and a professional inspection by an experienced tree surgeon can identify potential issues before they become costly or dangerous. Routine inspections are particularly worthwhile for mature trees, trees close to buildings or roads, and those that have experienced storm damage or prolonged drought.
Hoping to keep your trees in good health with these summer tree care tips? Contact us today to arrange a professional inspection.
Summer tree care FAQs
How often should I water trees during hot weather?
Young trees usually benefit from a deep watering once or twice a week during prolonged dry spells, while established trees only need additional watering during extended periods of drought. Deep watering offers far more effective summer tree care than frequent light watering as it encourages stronger root growth.
Is summer a good time to prune trees?
Light pruning to remove dead, damaged or dangerous branches can be carried out during summer, but major pruning is generally best left until the tree’s dormant season. A qualified tree surgeon can advise on the best time to prune different tree species.
When should I call a professional tree surgeon?
You should contact a professional tree surgeon if you notice dead branches, leaning trees, signs of disease, storm damage, or large branches overhanging your property. Regular inspections can also help identify hidden problems before they become serious.