This year our normal summer watering needs become even more critical since our trees have been at a water deficient most of the spring. So, the obvious question is – How much and how often should I water? This depends on the location, tree type and how mature it is – among other factors.
If the leaves are brown on the edges and are drooping or wilted, your tree isn’t getting enough water. Long term water stress usually leads to twig dieback, very little new growth and more susceptibility to insects and diseases.
The dry winter and spring in the west have brought us to another year where drought stress potentially becomes our most prevailing discussion and priority during the upcoming summer and fall. The lack of winter rain and quickly melting snow pack has already impacted the health of trees throughout our region and beyond. Combined with the prior year drought issues over the past seven to ten years, we anticipate not only will trees struggle much more this year and will take much longer to recover than normal.
How can you tell if your trees have pests or diseases? These problems can be challenging to recognize due to the sheer number of possible issues, and the fact that they may occur far above your head where they are difficult to spot! For this reason, pest infestation and tree diseases often go overlooked for years, then appear to progress quickly because they have gone unnoticed. Fortunately, there are common signs of poor tree health that can help you identify these problems early so you can get help from a professional arborist before you lose valuable trees. Find out if your trees have pests or health problems now with this handy list.
What causes Sudden Oak Death in trees and plant life? Sudden Oak Death, or SOD, is caused by the pathogenic fungus Phytophthora ramorum. This waterborne mold pathogen infiltrates plants and trees through contaminated irrigation water, wind-blown rain, infected plants, and contaminated pots and soil mixes. This fungus is also associated with other tree wellness issues like Ramorum leaf blight, Ramorum dieback, and Phytophthora canker.
Roots are the foundation of your trees and essential to their health and longevity. However, buried out of sight, roots in poor condition often go unnoticed until it is too late. Diseases, soggy soil, and drought affect root health. When these inhospitable soil conditions exist, they can lead to many root diseases, collectively referred to as root rot. Poor drainage is a leading cause of these issues, and it often takes the expert eye of a skilled arborist to identify root-related tree problems. How does poor drainage create root rot in trees?
At Arborwell, our ISA certified tree care professionals service Bay Area and Seattle city forests of all shapes and sizes. The trees growing beside HOAs and apartments, near retail centers, corporate campuses, and parks, endure a lot of abuse. They suffer from their proximity to large buildings and swaths of pavement, damage from people and cars, drought and weather extremes, poor drainage, and untended pest infestation and disease. When city budget cuts leave city trees without the arborist care they so desperately need, it leads to serious consequences for both plants and people
The High Cost of Severely Neglected City Trees
The Arborwell team understands that neglecting the care of city trees costs far more in the long run than providing routine maintenance. Most of the emergency maintenance calls we attend to present far more in liability risk than proper tree care. Are these tree care issues putting your business at risk?
Dying, disease, and pest-ridden trees pose a serious safety risk. Left unaddressed, they can fall on vehicles, buildings, and pedestrians, leaving property owners and city governments liable for damage and injury.
Fallen limbs from trees with heavy overgrowth can damage power lines, causing outages. They can also block roadways, obstructing access.
Unattended roots can crack and lift sidewalks and roadways, necessitating costly pavement repairs.
You can avoid these emergency issues with a minimal investment in timely care. At Arborwell, our plant health care experts can ensure your trees remain healthy and sustainable, benefitting the community.
Maximizing the Benefits of City Trees
Trees are a key part of a happy, healthy urban environment. City trees clean the air and water, offer welcome shade, and reduce stormwater runoff. They serve as a habitat for area wildlife, combat the urban heat island effect, and provide a relaxing, natural ambiance for residents to enjoy. If only for a bit of routine maintenance, they could live much longer, healthier lives, increasing in value as they age.
Keeping Up with Tree Care Responsibilities
Our knowledgeable arborists know that city trees don’t require intensive maintenance. In fact, they need less care as they mature. With a thorough evaluation, our experienced staff can develop a long term, proactive plan for your city trees with your budgetary needs in mind. We offer comprehensive services, including:
Pruning trees to reduce risk from fallen limbs
Cleaning up following storm damage
Clearing branches or trees that block or pose a hazard to structures and utilities
Removing and replacing dead trees
Quickly identifying and treating diseased or pest-ridden trees and mitigating spread
Addressing nutrient deficiencies
Removing invasive species
Improving species and age diversity of the trees on your grounds
You require preventative health checkups with your doctor annually. Trees need the same level of proactive care. Is it time to schedule a primary care visit from one of our ISA certified arborists? Contact Arborwell Professional Tree Management to schedule an evaluation and start caring for the city trees on your San Jose, San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Seattle, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Hayward, or Oakland property today.
Droughts are a frequent occurrence in the Bay Area, making care for your landscaping trees a challenge. Your trees provide many benefits, delivering cool shade, improving air quality, controlling water runoff and erosion, and increasing your property value. To safeguard their health and prevent drought conditions from making them vulnerable to pests and diseases, ensuring your trees have the water they need to survive this stressful time is essential.
Large Trees Need Deep Watering At Least 1-2 Times Per Month
Any tree species accustomed to regular watering can experience stress in drought conditions. Water-loving birches, redwoods, and maples are especially at risk. During a drought, you can transition mature trees that have been surrounded by a generous layer of mulch to a regimen of deep water irrigation 1-2 times per month. However, we recommend closely monitoring your trees. When temperatures reach or surpass 95 F, more frequent watering may be necessary.
Tips for Watering Bay Area Landscaping Trees
Look to age and species to determine frequency Our ISA certified arborists can help you determine the best watering schedule for your trees. Young, newly planted trees require more water than established trees, up to 4 times per week in the summer. Native trees, such as California oaks, need far less water than non-native species, requiring only one or two deep soaks over the summer season.
Install irrigation carefully to avoid trunk rot Concentrating water at the base of a tree can cause trunk rot. To avoid this and get better root coverage, run your drip line in a spiral from the outer edges of the tree canopy, spiraling toward the trunk. Use a soaker hose or low-flow stream rotator heads, avoiding the use of wasteful sprinklers/sprayers.
Time your watering to minimize waste When irrigating your commercial property or residential complex, it’s best to water in the early morning or after sunset to minimize water evaporation.
Water to the proper depth Unlike grass, which has shallow roots, your trees require a deeper soaking. After watering, check the soil beneath trees, verifying it is moist (not soggy) to at least 18 inches deep.
Boost Your Irrigation Efforts with Mulching
Integrating wood chip mulch as part of your drought protocol can be a fantastic aid to your watering efforts, keeping moisture in the soil longer, and reducing water consumption by 10-25%. Adding a thick, 4-6 inch layer around your trees also protects roots from any extremes of cold and heat, as well as reducing the prevalence of weeds and grass that compete for water and nutrients.
Uphold the beauty and value of your property with the proper watering of your Bay Area landscaping trees. Contact Arborwell Professional Tree Management at to request an arborist consultation on your San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Livermore, or Palo Alto property today.
