We all know that a drought has numerous negative effects, but how does it affect the trees in your own backyard?
The biggest effect that a drought has on your trees is that a drought slows down the growth of trees. The amount of water available in the soil declines. As a result, the tree’s roots aren’t capable of absorbing moisture.
Plants are 80-95% water. Trees have evolved in order to protect themselves when not getting an adequate water supply. During a drought, leaves close their stomas so less water can be carried and transported throughout the tree. Closing the stoma helps conserve water. This causes irreversible shrinkage in the cell membranes and prohibits proper growth in trees and other plants.
The type of soil also greatly affects a tree’s growth. If the soil is not getting adequate water your trees can not flourish. Soils that have clay retain water better, which is good news for where we live. A lot of the soil around the midwest has clay in it.
Short-term effects of a drought:
- Wilted leaves
- Curled, warped, or crinkled leaves.
- Leaf Scorch
- Defoliating Trees.
- Yellow or brown leaves
- Bark Cracks.
- Bark beetles
- Dropped leaves
- More susceptible to things like fires
Drought can be short term but the effects can be substantial with years of consequences.
Long-term effects of a drought:
- Poor and slow radial growth of tree
- Increased vulnerability to insects and other pests
- Smaller leaf size
- Dead branches
- Thinning foliage
While in a drought, here are some things to keep in mind to minimize the effects in your backyard.
- Water as much as your city allows.
- Focus on watering trees that show the most amount of stress.
- Keep up on regular trimming. At Jeff’s professional tree services we can help with trimming services.
- Check soil moisture.
Get in touch and contact us with any questions you have about your trees.
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