Dry trees
Garden Clippings for July 30, 2022
They will survive. Fingers crossed.
Trees are incredibly resilient. Tough as nails. But each time I drive by the 25 Hawthorn trees on the south end of Lambton College, I utter a short prayer. They were planted a year ago, probably coming in at about 500 bucks a pop.
The Hawthorn trees were planted in moist soil and appeared healthy. Spring was damp, and they continued to thrive. But by the time June’s drought arrived, they were nearly forgotten. Thank goodness, someone, probably a Lambton College groundskeeper, watered them and saved the day.
June and July 2022 will come down in the history books as the year we crawled out of Covid, and managed to do so with nearly zero rain. Yes, there have been some pockets in Lambton County that received a deluge of rain, but a mile or two up the road the soil remained parched.
Newly planted trees need water. That’s an easy task for you and me average homeowners who can periodically pull out a hose to water our trees, shrubs, and grass. But for trees planted in public parks, boulevards, schools, and commercial properties where there is seemingly no owner present, watering is easily forgotten.
Once trees have been in the ground for 3 years or more, their roots are considered established and will survive a draught with no issues.
Trees planted in sandy soil are more vulnerable and will certainly need water during the hot summer months. Most of Lambton County’s soil is clayey, and therefore is better suited to survive a prolonged dry spell.
Evergreens have built-in water holding capacity and can survive dry conditions better than their deciduous counterparts. Some evergreens, such as Pines, as evidenced in the sandy Pinery Park, grow happily in dry, sandy soils.
Homeowners concerned about their trees should do a soil test before adding water. Dig a 6- to 8-inch-deep hole near the tree and see if the soil is wet or dry. If soil is dry, set the garden hose at the base of the tree and allow the water to trickle for up to two hours. Repeat two weeks later.
Gardeners lucky enough to have an automatic watering system will not need to worry about adding extra water for their trees. Remember that a deep watering once a week is better than light, frequent waterings.
Mulch is a great friend of trees, especially those newly planted. Four inches of shredded bark or wood chips placed in a 6 ft diameter circle at the base of a tree will do wonders to preserve soil moisture.
Finally, those wondering if their straw-coloured grass will survive the summer need not fear. Grass always bounces back after a good rain. Many lawn care experts will tell you that a periodic dry spell is good for turf, as it forces roots to go down deep for water, resulting in healthier turf.
