Help Your New Trees and Shrubs Beat the Heat

I think most of us understand that we should be watering newly planted trees and shrubs in this heat… When talking to our tree experts, though, I was surprised to hear what they defined as "newly planted". Trees and shrubs that were planted in the last 2 years really need supplemental water to avoid decline in these continued high temperatures. That's right. It takes 2 growing seasons before most trees and shrubs are considered established. So how much is enough?

There are equations that tell us exactly how much water you need to replace what is lost through the leaves of the plant on a hot, windy day.

• Multiply inches of evapotranspiration (you can get this from the weather service) by the square footage inside the drip line of your tree. Then multiply that by 0.62 (gallons in an inch of water) to estimate the gallons of water used by the plant. evapotranspiration x sq ft x 0.62 = water loss per day

I know what most of you are thinking…. "Huh?"  Don't worry.  You don't need to get your calculator out every day.  Just keep this in mind:

Basically, you want to insure that you are watering to the bottom of the root ball without overwatering. If you insert a metal rod into the soil ball and are unable to push it more than a couple of inches, you need to water more. Water slower, for a longer period to reach those deeper roots and to allow the water to soak into the soil/root ball instead of just running off around it. With this method, you should be able to water every 10 to 14 days. Just keep in mind, even if you have drip irrigation set up, it may not be enough with the extreme temperatures we've had recently in the Charlotte area.  (12 days of over 100 degree temperatures!)

So keep up the watering. The first couple of growing season are CRUCIAL for the health of the plant.

Thanks,

The AA Tex Lawn Team

Pruning, the Scary Truth about Rejuvenation

It happens slowly over time… Shrubs sneak, creep, and skulk until they've consumed an area of the yard. You look out to notice the small shrub that you planted 5 years ago has become a behemoth that is threatening to take over your lawn or keep you from getting to your front door! But maintain hope! Short of battling the goliath with a chainsaw and a metal chain to rip it out by the roots, there is an easier solution. A severe pruning or shrub rejuvenation could be the answer…

Here are some pictures of a successful shrub rejuvenation that was done at our office. These steeds hollies that we inherited outside our office had grown too big for the space and needed an infusion of air to the inside branches to increase airflow and maintain plant health. Our solution was to rejuvenate them by doing a severe pruning. Directly after the pruning, the shrubs looked scary enough to strike fear into the heart of the common man… They were scraggly, nubbly, full of sheared off limbs and bare branches. But time heals all wounds. Given a couple of months of growth, the shrubs are back to their leafy, green ideal and healthier than they were last year. All in all, it was a success.

Steeds Holly 2 months later with new growth

Steeds Holly directly after pruning



Timing is important. You want to prune spring flowering shrubs directly after they bloom since they bloom on last season's growth. Whereas shrubs that bud on new growth should be pruned in late winter. For more information on shrub rejuvenation, see Rejuvenating an Old Shrub at http://aatexlawn.blogspot.com/2011/01/rejuvenating-old-shrub.htmlThanks,

The AA Tex Lawn Team

Summer's Here with a Vengence (Heat and your Landscape)

Look out!  Summer is here with a vengence!  The Charlotte area has had 100 degree record-breaking temperatures recently.  Ice cream sales will skyrocket, pools will be crowded, and air conditioning units will be at full power.  But as we all look for creative ways to keep cool, we thought you should be aware of what this type of heat will do to your landscape. 

1. Fescue turf WILL stress.  This cannot be avoided.  Since fescue is a cool season grass, it's just not made to handle the hot temperatures.  This grass type grows best in the moderate climate of fall and spring.  What can you do to minimize the damage from the heat?  Avoid over-mowing.  Heat stress causes fescue to enter a dormant state, with the hopes that it will perk back up when the soil temperatures decrease.  Mowing too often can break the weakened blades off at the crown instead of cutting the blades cleanly.  This leaves you with a probability that it won't be able to recover come fall.  Since the grass is not growing as quickly, it is best to lengthen the time between mowings.  Some lawns can move to an every other week mowing schedule without issue.  If you have an abundance of weeds in the turf, you may need to mow to cut down the weeds (i.e. crabgrass seed-heads).  If this is the case in your lawn, perhaps you should consider a lawn maintenance program like our 7 Step program to promote healthy turf and limit weed growth.
2. Established shrubs should be able to take the heat unless they are diseased or stressed.  Is it important that newly planted  shrubs or trees get sufficient water.  With our hit and miss rainfall this summer, regular watering will help.  The key is to water less often, but longer to limit runoff and ensure a deep soaking to promote deep root growth.  Shallow watering encourages shallow root growth.  Deep watering encourages deep root growth.  Make sense?
3. Flowers need to be watered.  Different varieties have different needs, so it's best to know the requirements for your specific varieties, but unless you are growing a succulent garden (think cacti), they are going to need water.  It's best to water in the morning hours when the lawn is wet with dew.  The cooler morning temps allow the moisture more time to absorb down to the roots.  Watering done in the hot afternoon may evaporate too quickly.  Watering done at night may increase the likelihood of disease because the plant stays wet for a longer period of time.

Those are the facts, folks.  Our landscapes will struggle through the heat.  Keep an eye on your pets when they are outdoors and check on your elderly neighbors.  The extreme heat will not last forever.

Thanks,

The AA Tex Lawn Team