As the summer heat makes and appearance and the temperature spikes and we enter the peak of summer, it’s crucial to prepare your landscape, trees, and lawen for the upcoming hot and dry conditions. At ArborActive, we’re committed to helping you maintain the health and beauty of your lawn, trees, shrubs, and mushroom logs during this challenging season. Here are some tips on how to manage your landscape during periods of heat, even in areas with watering restrictions, there are strategies to help your plants.
Tree and Shrub Care
Our trees and shrubs experience additional stress and can be damaged during the summer heat.
- Watering: Just like your lawn, gardens, and flowers, trees and shrubs need to be watered to mimic 1 inch of rain per week with thorough, deep soaking. Even mature trees benefit from water during the heat. For small trees, set a garden hose on a slow trickle under the tree for a couple of hours. For larger trees, let the hose run overnight on a slow trickle.
- Mulch Rings: Adding mulch rings can help lower soil temperature and conserve moisture. Mulch rings extending out to the tree’s dripline are best, but even a few feet around each tree can help.
- Soil Organic Matter: Studies show incorporating organic matter into the soil can improve soil moisture retention by up to 250%, and help store a week’s worth of water. ArborActive incorporates organic matter into the soil around trees with air tilling, using compressed air to till the soil without damaging roots.
- Soil Amendments and Conditioners: These can help improve water retention in the soil and pull moisture from the air, ensuring new trees receive the necessary moisture.
- Additional Attention For New Plants: New trees require more attention. Consult ArborActive for advice on how to care for new plants during the hot season.
Lawn Care
Our lawns will soon begin to experience the effects of heat and dry conditions. Cool season grasses can tend to go dormant in response to the conditions, this is normal and lawns generally return to healthy green when cooler weather and rain returns. Stressed turf can be injured in the heat though. Take step to maintain your lawn:
- Dormancy: During the hot season, cool-season grasses may go dormant, and turn brown until soil cools down and rain is regular.
- Supplemental Irrigation: Provide your lawn with irrigation that mimics an inch of rain per week. Apply a deep watering every 2-3 days rather than more frequent, lighter watering to encourage deep root growth.
- Soil Conditioning: ArborActive offers soil conditioning treatments to enhance your lawn’s ability to retain moisture and nutrients.
- Moisture Retention Treatments: Our moisture retention treatments help the soil retain moisture for longer periods, reducing the need for frequent watering and supporting your lawn through the hottest days.
- Mowing Height: Taller turf shades the soil below, helping to retain moisture and keep soil temperatures down. Mowing heights between 3.5 and 4 inches are best during hot dry summer conditions. ArborActive will be raising cutting heights until the heat passes.
Mushroom Logs
Mushroom Logs are pretty easy to care for, but the one thing they do need is moisture and shade.
- Mimic Rain: Now is the time to water your mushroom logs to mimic 1 inch of rain per week with a thorough, deep soaking. This can be done with watering cans, the hose, sprinklers, or soaking logs in a large bucket or naturally occurring ponds or wet areas.
- Location: Keep your mushroom logs in cooler, shady areas to protect them from the intense heat and help maintain moisture levels.
By following these guidelines and utilizing ArborActive’s specialized treatments, you can ensure that your lawn, trees, shrubs, and mushroom logs remain healthy and resilient throughout the summer months. ArborActive is always here to provide you with the best solutions tailored to your specific needs.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation for soil conditioning, moisture retention treatments, or advice on new plant care, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 860-337-4850 or Trees@ArborActive.co.
Stay cool and keep your green spaces thriving this summer with ArborActive!