If you live in an area with drought conditions, it’s crucial to be aware of the signs your trees may be thirsty. While avoiding excess water is vital, regular tree watering is essential to preventing yellow leaves and other signs of dehydrated trees. In this article, we’ll cover five common signs a tree needs water, so you can act quickly to save them from dehydration.
#1 – Leaves Turning Yellow or Brown
The first sign to look out for is yellow or brown and undersized leaves. Besides being unsightly, these symptoms are a sign of tree stress. Plants need water to survive, and when they don’t get enough moisture, they shed their dying leaves to conserve what little water they have left. Unfortunately, if the tree loses too many leaves, it could die.
If you’re worried about the health of your trees, contact a local tree service to have them examined. In the meantime, ensure your trees have plenty of water. This includes watering them regularly and removing any debris that might block their access to the soil.
#2 – Reduced Growth Rate
Another of the most common signs a tree needs water is a reduced growth rate. If your tree isn’t growing correctly, it may suffer from dehydration. While nutritional issues or lack of sunlight can also slow tree growth, dehydration is the most common cause. If you’ve noticed your tree’s growth slowing lately, increase the water you provide to see if the plant begins to recover. If it doesn’t improve within a few weeks, it may be a sign that the tree is in poor health and requires further treatment.
#3 – Cracks in the Bark
Cracked bark is another indicator of dehydration. The cracks often appear on the tree trunk and extend down to the ground. If you notice that your tree has this symptom, it’s vital to take action immediately to avoid permanent damage.
To treat the damaged tree, you’ll need to increase water and apply mulch around the base to moisten the soil. In addition, you may have to remove the tree from the property if the crack worsens, so the damage doesn’t spread to other plants nearby.
#4 – Tree Wilting or Drooping
If you’ve noticed that your tree is wilting or drooping, there’s a good chance it’s time to water. Unfortunately, this symptom is widespread during summer, when the trees don’t receive enough groundwater. To fix the problem, you’ll have to increase the amount of water you apply to your tree and give it time to recover from the drought.
If the plant continues to droop, the best option may be to remove the tree to prevent damage to the surrounding property. Working with tree service contractors in Palm Harbor, FL, is usually the safest way to remove a tree from your property without causing additional damage.
#5- Deadwood on the Trunk or Branches
Deadwood on branches and trunks can indicate many severe problems, including malnutrition, disease, and insect infestation. However, the most common cause for this symptom in Florida trees is water deficiency. Fortunately, it’s easy to fix this problem by increasing the amount of water you give your tree and applying mulch around the tree’s base to keep it moist.
If the deadwood persists, the tree may be too severely damaged and require removal service. If you’d like to read about tree protection in the summer, explore more of our site. For help dealing with the signs a tree needs water or to remove a tree posing a hazard, call Stevens Tree Service at 727-734-TREE (8733) to schedule tree service in Palm Beach, Fl today.
