Canberra summers mean dry heat and sudden storms. Your trees need a bit of help to cope. Here is a simple checklist.
1. Prune deadwood
Dead, damaged or weak branches can break in storms. Pruning also directs the tree's energy into healthy growth. Watch for rot, disease and weak limbs.
2. Water deeply
In dry spells, trees need regular watering so roots have moisture. Water deeply and less often, which encourages deeper roots and better drought tolerance. Overwatering can cause root rot, so balance is the goal.
3. Mulch
Organic mulch around the base keeps moisture in and roots cool. Keep it a few centimetres clear of the trunk to prevent rot.
4. Check for pests and disease
Warm weather brings borers, caterpillars and aphids. Inspect before summer and have a qualified arborist identify anything unusual.
5. Stake young trees properly
Stakes help young trees through storms and encourage straight growth, but they should not be tight. Trees need some movement to build a strong trunk. Take stakes off after about a year.
6. Feed only if needed
Many trees need little or no fertiliser. A soil test can tell you if feeding will help.
7. Check trees after storms
After any summer storm, look over your trees for broken limbs, cracks and leaning. For anything that looks unsafe, call our 24-hour storm clean-up team.
Need a hand? Call 02 6105 9997 or request a free quote.
Related Canberra tree services
Need help? We offer Tree Pruning & Trimming, Storm Damage Clean-Up, Emergency Tree Removal. Local pages: Tree service Torrens, Tree service Weetangera, Tree service Weston, Tree service Amaroo, or all areas we service.