6 Tips For Summer Tree Care in the Pacific Northwest

In the hot summer days, even in our temperate coastal Oregon, trees go into conservation mode. They shut down to conserve energy and deal with potential drought or lack of water conditions. While they are taking it easy there are still things that you can do to make sure your trees stay healthy over the summer months. Considering all the wildfires occurring on the West Coast of the U.S., we felt it was wise to provide a refresher on proper tree care tips for summer.

Check Trees For Bare Branches Within The Canopy

Branches that aren’t growing leaves are generally facing some sort of distress and typically are on their way towards being pruned out of the tree. Whether it’s a Pacific madrone or Western hemlock from the evergreen family of trees or the Oregon ash, red alder, or some other species of deciduous trees it is possible for the limbs to suffer some sort of trauma or disease and end up dying. With evergreens, you’re looking for browning of their needles and eventually the needles dropping to the ground. Wherewith deciduous trees it’s a lack of leaf and shoots along the branches. These branches probably need to be removed for the health of your tree, but it is important before you start pruning to make sure you know what you’re doing. Incorrect trimming or pruning can actually cause harm to your tree.

Check Trees For Unusual Holes In The Trunk Of The Tree

Just like branches without leaves is a sign that your trees could use some attention, unusual holes in the trunk of your tree are also something not to be overlooked. Holes can be created by a number of things, birds, boring insects, disease, or trauma. The bark on a tree works similar to our skin, it’s a protective layer for everything underneath. When holes appear in the bark of the tree they create a vulnerability in the tree, making it more susceptible to disease or destructive pests to invade.

Watch For Loose And Hanging Branches

During a heavy summer storm, branches can break and hang down. It is particularly important for the safety of your family or property to watch for these loose limbs. Removing them from the tree’s canopy will not only prevent an accident from occurring it will help the health of the tree to deal with these loose limbs by safely pruning them. Before beginning pruning, it is worth reaching out to a qualified arborist in your area to assess the safest way to handle limb removal.

Make Sure They Get Enough Water

Although Oregon generally gets a healthy amount of water due to our coastal location, it is possible to go through patches of hot dry drought-like conditions. When this is the case we recommend watering the ground around your trees once a week and giving them a particularly good soaking. This strategy is actually preferable to watering only a little bit a few times a week.

Keep A Strong Mulch Ring Around The Base of Your Trees

Building a decent mulch ring around your trees to conserve moisture to strengthen its roots is a task to be completed during the summer months before the heat sets in, but it is important to keep an eye on your mulch rings throughout the summer. Mulch can end up disturbed by lawnmowers, animals, or even children. Taking the time to build it back up over summer will protect a better level of protection for your trees, keeping their roots moist and strong.

Consider Giving Your Trees A Shot Of Fertilizer

Fertilizer is full of nutrients that can help your trees with leaf and shoot growth. It also has the ability to defend against disease and other pests. An experienced arborist can help you determine the best fertilizer for your particular trees and can even administer the shot to make sure it is done as effectively as possible.

Trees really are one of nature’s marvels, taking good care of our trees ensures that they will live on for years, capable of providing lovely shade for us to rest under during bouts of hot summer weather. For more information on how you can take care of your trees not only during the summer but every month of the year see our seasonal tree maintenance guide. And if you think your trees could use some extra attention and care don’t hesitate to contact us at Urban Forest Pro. With years of experience and a stellar reputation, we are one of Portland’s top tree care companies.