Tuesday, May 31, 2011

The showers end...now what

Well it seemed like it was never going to happen but our April and May showers may eventually end...we hope...maybe. With that being said, you may begin to notice a few things with your trees that you should be aware of.

First, if you have a maple tree that begins to drop some of its leaves, don't worry it is probably just leaf drop caused by the maple petiole borer. A large majority of the time this leads to tree owner concern, but at this point there is little to do and ultimately it will not cause damage to your tree. Ask more questions if 50% or more of the leaves are dropping.

Secondly, tent caterpillar are beginning to emerge. Grab a glove, pull or cut the web out and stomp them before they defoliate your tree.

Lastly, with all the rain it is easy to forget the watering needs of your trees. A general rule of thumb is that trees need the equivalent of about 1" of rain per week. Anything less than that and it may be a good idea to consider watering. This really applies to trees that have been newly transplanted less than 3 years. The most effective way is putting your hose at the base of the trunk on a slow trickle for 20-30 minutes so that the water can slowly feed the roots and not flood your lawn. This should only be done up to 2-3 times per week in the hot and dryer months.

Trees can make your home more enjoyable in the summer months so take the time to take care of them. As always, if you ever have questions ask a professional for advice.

Trees 'N' Scapes Inc. Staff

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