As dry Alberta summers continue to creep closer on the calendar, are you prepared to keep your property green, lush and healthy?
Are your trees’ leaves looking a little lacklustre? Sub-optimal environmental conditions that can plague Alberta during the summer months, such as extreme heat and low soil moisture, can lead them to develop a condition known as leaf scorch. This issue arises when leaves undergo tissue death as a result of the roots not having access to enough water to compensate for the large amounts of evaporation occurring from the leaves. Thankfully, it’s both treatable and preventable.
WHEN DO LEAVES TYPICALLY DEVELOP SYMPTOMS OF LEAF SCORCH?
Plants are more likely to be affected when they’re subject to unfavourable environmental factors, like high temperatures, drought and dry winds. As such, trees tend to develop symptoms in the warmer months of July and August. Other variables, for example damaged roots or soil that is saturated with fertilizer, can also play in to the development of the condition. Furthermore, trees that are young, or battling infestation or disease, tend to be weaker and are therefore more susceptible to contracting this condition.
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF SCORCHED LEAVES
In order to effectively treat leaf scorch, you have to first be able to recognize the symptoms. Leaves that start changing colours is the first sign, with the edges of the leaves turning brown and the spaces between the veins yellowing. In extreme cases, the leaves may shrivel up completely.
In evergreens, the condition manifests in the needles, with the discolouration starting at the tip and working its way in. These symptoms aren’t always uniformly dispersed on the plant; often, they appear more on the side of the tree with greater exposure to dry winds.
LEAD SCORCH TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
During heat waves, provide your trees with an extra watering every 10 to 14 days, being sure to soak the soil thoroughly.
Laying mulch around the bases of your trees will work in conjunction with this practice to help keep the soil moist.
Additionally, you shouldn’t fertilize your plants during the hot summer months; try to do so only in the fall or spring, before the leaves develop or after they’ve fallen.
To conserve the tree’s resources, you should also prune any dead branches you may notice. Implementing these practices will do wonders in keeping your trees strong and healthy.
ALL SEASON TREE SERVICE IN ALBERTA – CALL US ANY TIME OF YEAR!
In order to keep your trees looking their best and to avoid any potential hazards, hire one of our experienced arborists. Our team at All Season Tree Service is well-equipped to deal with any needs you may have, including tree removal, tree pruning and diseased tree services.