Tree Care Basics

Imagine that while you are spending valuable time caring for your trees, you could actually be doing more harm than good. That can happen if you don’t pay attention to the moisture condition of the soil while following a steady watering plan.

Too much water can be just as bad as too little water. It may not seem intuitive, but tree roots actually need to breathe. Excess soil moisture excludes oxygen, and without a drying period between soakings, the breathing will not occur. Roots will slowly begin to die and eventually the tree can perish. One symptom of too much water is the yellowing of leaves when it is not expected. It will generally start on the lower part of the tree on the inside of the crown and then move outward. Other symptoms include leaves turning a lighter shade of green and then yellow, wilting of young shoots, and brittle green leaves. Soil should be moist, not soggy and squishy for any length of time. Watering once per week is usually adequate.

The best way to insure proper watering is to research all of the available watering methods, pick the one that fits you best, and establish a weekly habit.