It looks like we are in for unseasonably hot weather this week. One of the most important things you can do is to water your newly planted trees. Watering will help to limit heat stress and keep newly planted trees from reaching wilt point. When leaves begin to wilt, it is a sure sign that water stress is a factor (other issues may be verticillium wilt in maples, catalpa and others). Remember, the only way a tree can move elements is through the movement of water. No water=no tree.
I generally recommend that newly planted trees receive 5 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter.
Example: 2 inch diameter tree gets 10 gallons of water. Do this 2-3 times per week until the rains return. However, even in cold and dry weather, newly planted trees can benefit from watering.
For more tree care information, give me a call.
