According to recent data, cities in the Metro DC/Northern Virginia area average anywhere from 3 to 4 inches of precipitation during the wet summer months. In the summer months with temperatures surpassing 90 degrees with a high amount of humidity, it can be hard to determine how much water your tree needs in addition to what nature is providing. Trees receiving inadequate amounts of water will exhibit wilting, leaf scorch, and dropping of leafs and branches.
As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the tree, the more water it will need, with the average amount equal to 10 gallons per inch of diameter of the tree. You can determine approximately how much water your tree will need by multiplying the tree’s diameter (measured at knee height) and multiplying it by 5 minutes, which is about how long it takes to produce ten gallons of water from a hose at medium pressure. For example, a tree with a diameter of 5″ will need 50 gallons of water per watering, which would take about 25 minutes to produce.
WATERING TIPS FOR SUMMER:
Focus on the critical root zone when watering. Wetting foliage is a waste of water and can promote the spread of diseases.
DON’T use a sprinkler. This only wets the top layer of soil and doesn’t properly water the tree.
Water in the morning to avoid evaporation and to help trees deal with the heat throughout the day.
Water deeply and thoroughly 1 to 2 times a week.
Put your normal hose somewhere in the critical root zone.
Turn hose on to a dribble
Leave for 2-3 hours
Move the hose to a different spot in the critical root zone and leave for 2-3 hours. Repeat this step 1-3 times.
You want the soil to be moist but not soaking. You should NOT be able to make a mud ball out of the soil.
It’s okay for some portions of the soil to be wet and some to be dry.
Other Watering Tips:
If your children have a plastic pool, dump the water around the base of your tree to conserve water.
The best time to water is during the early morning or evening hours. Although not harmful, during the day when the sun is the brightest, the heat can cause evaporation, and not allow the tree to completely absorb the water, making watering inefficient.
As a general rule, it is better to water deeply rather than more frequently in order to better penetrate the tree’s root system. This is particularly important with younger trees, as a shallow watering will encourage the roots to grow closer to the surface, which can cause other health problems for the tree.
Avoid watering the trunk of the tree. Excess and frequent watering of a tree’s trunk can cause rotting.
Do not over water your trees as this can cause just as much damage as too little water. After a good watering, the soil should be moist, not water-logged.
If you have a Canopy Protection Program you can relax knowing our plant health care technicians will notify you if your tree is being over or under watered.
RTEC TreeCare has been your premier destination for customizable tree care solutions for over 25-years. Our expert team of certified arborists and tree care professionals is committed to preserving the health and beauty of your trees while ensuring the safety of your property. With a focus on environmental sustainability and the latest industry practices, we offer a wide range of services, including tree trimming, pruning, emergency tree removal, disease treatment, and more.
RTEC TreeCare has been your premier destination for customizable tree care solutions for over 25-years. Our expert team of certified arborists and tree care professionals is committed to preserving the health and beauty of your trees while ensuring the safety of your property. With a focus on environmental sustainability and the latest industry practices, we offer a wide range of services, including tree trimming, pruning, emergency tree removal, disease treatment, and more.
When a tree starts looking unhealthy, most people look up. They check the leaves for discoloration, scan the branches for dieback, or inspect the trunk
RTEC Treecare has proudly provided tree care services to the Federal Government for 30 years. During that time, we have worked with over 20 federal agencies across four presidential administrations.
Safety and quality are at the core of everything we do. All work is performed in accordance with OSHA safety regulations and ANSI industry standards to ensure every project is completed professionally and responsibly.
RTEC Treecare is currently performing hazard tree pruning and removal services for the National Park Service at East Potomac Park Golf Course. The trees assigned for treatment have been evaluated and selected by National Park Service arborists based on established hazard assessment criteria.
We want to be clear: RTEC Treecare has not removed any cherry trees at East Potomac Park Golf Course. Our work has been limited to trees identified by the National Park Service as hazardous, non-native, or invasive.
As professional tree care specialists, we are committed to protecting and preserving valuable tree resources while helping ensure public safety.
Every project we undertake is guided by industry best practices and respect for the landscapes and communities we serve.
We remain dedicated to delivering safe, responsible, and high-quality tree care for our clients and the communities they serve.
Feel free to leave your contact information on our online form. A consultation is always free, and it’s the first step towards finding a solution for your trees!
