Maintaining trees in the summer

Trees play an important role in our lives: they create stunning décors while purifying the air from CO₂. During the summer, it is important to take care of your trees. Here are a few tips on watering, mulching, weeding, fertilizing and inspecting.

Watering your tree

Trees need water, just like us! When the weather is hot and dry, young trees and newly planted trees must be watered on a regular basis. Make sure the water reaches the roots. Trees need about an inch of water a week.

Avoid frequent surface waterings as it would promote the development of shallow roots.

Applying mulch

There are several benefits to spreading mulch at the base of your trees. Here are some of them:

• Prevents drought by retaining moisture
• Stabilizes soil temperatures
• Protects roots from high foot traffic
• Reduces erosion
• Reduces weeds

Apply mulch to create a kind of donut around the base of your trees. Spread between 3 and 4 inches. Avoid piling mulch against trunks as it could lead to problems with insects and diseases.

Removing weeds

Weeds feed on the nutrients in the soil. Avoid applying herbicide near a tree. To fight off weeds, you can plant ground covers such as creeping plants at the base of your tree.

If weeds are already present, we recommend weeding manually on a regular basis.

Fertilizing trees

In forests, soils contain lots of nutrients, and that is why trees need no fertilization. In yards, it's another story.

It is better to apply fertilizer in the spring or fall. If you fertilize in the summer, avoid nitrogen-rich products, as it would trigger new weak growth, which will easily be damaged in the winter. We recommended visiting your garden centre for tips based on your hardiness zone.

Regular inspections

Take a few minutes to check your trees for insect infestations and diseases. Possible pests include Japanese beetles, aphids, spider mites, bagworms, etc. Keep both eyes open and take action as soon as necessary.