June 2024 Treecologist Tribune

My name is Matt Archibald, and I am one of the consulting arborists at Leaf & Limb. I am taking over the Treecologist Tribune this month while Basil is on a well-deserved vacation!

Over the past few days, we've seen record-breaking temperatures. The hot weather of summer has returned, but the rainfall? Not so much. Since the last time we reported from the field, we have had less than 2 inches of rain, which is well below average. According to NOAA's National Drought Status, we are experiencing a period of abnormal dryness. Unless we start getting more rainfall in the coming weeks, we will be headed into a drought.

There is no need to worry quite yet because you can still do things to keep your trees and shrubs happy and healthy. If you have newly planted trees, they might need occasional watering if the leaves are starting to look wilted. It is also a great time to check your soil conditions. Healthy soil can retain water much easier than the compacted and lifeless dirt often found in sub/urban areas. The more water the soil retains, the more trees can allocate for growing and defending themselves. One of the best ways to improve soil health is by using compost tea.

Fun fact: Did you know that, on average, a large Oak tree can suck up 100 gallons of water per day?!

What’s going on in the world of trees right now? We have seen increased Ambrosia Beetle activity as we enter the warmer months and have found more instances where they have attacked stressed trees than in previous years. Ambrosia Beetles are opportunistic secondary invaders that will only attack trees that are already stressed. And what is the number one thing that prevents trees from being stressed? You might have heard this one before... healthy soil! Improving poor soil conditions not only enhances the water uptake of a tree but also encourages all of the life in the soil to allocate nutrients for a tree and give it the proper nutrition to fight off secondary invaders.

What’s going on in the world of prairies right now? The prairies do not seem bothered by the heat and are looking fabulous right now. The rain earlier this year helped the early summer blossoms get established. Just look at these beauties:

I hope everyone stays cool and safe during this week's heat wave. If you'd like to learn more about improving the health of your soil, contact us for a free quote to see how we can help your trees stay happy and healthy for years to come.