How Does Drought Affect Trees?

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How Does Drought Affect Trees?

Drought is a prolonged deficit between water supply and demand. This means long-term conditions of increased demand without sufficient water supply cause drought. With the rise of global warming and climate change, many parts of the country experience the effects of drought first-hand. These effects include water restrictions and increased dust conditions, compromising the quality of life. Driscoll Tree Service can help you mitigate drought-related damage to trees, whether it’s in your backyard or a natural setting. We are a reputable tree care company with dedicated and experienced arborists ready to provide pertinent information and quality tree services year-long.

Drought in a Natural Setting

As mentioned, trees grow in your backyard and in a natural setting. Regardless of the location, irrigation is critical for healthy growth and development. Drought overwhelms the trees, increasing the risk of diseases when they are most vulnerable. Lack of irrigation forces the trees to redirect energy allocated for defense against diseases and pests and apply it to survival. Drought stress forces trees to release chemicals such as ethylene, acetaldehyde, and ethane, which attract ambrosia beetles, weevils, and bark beetles.

Bark Beetles

If you suspect a weak tree in your backyard because of inadequate irrigation, chances are bark beetles have infested it. These nasty critters usually attack weak trees, causing severe damage and, in other instances, tree death. Beetles burrow through the tree’s vascular system, cutting the flow of nutrients from the roots to the rest of the tree.

Since the tree can’t distribute essential nutrients, it will die off slowly from starvation. We recommend hiring a professional tree care company to inspect your trees regularly, ensuring minor signs are addressed before becoming more pronounced. If bark beetles are left to reproduce, they can spread to healthy trees, wreaking havoc in your landscape.

Drought in an Urban Setting

Like trees in the wild or suburbs, drought also affects trees in urban areas. Although many property owners have installed irrigation systems, many cities impose water restrictions in non-essential areas, like landscaping. It is advisable to work with a tree service to ensure you comply with the restrictions without risking the overall well-being of your trees. You can protect your trees from the effects of drought in several ways, such as applying a layer of mulch to maintain moisture for a long time.

Cutting off the water supply to your landscape may not immediately impact trees, but internally they are experiencing deterioration like trees in natural settings. Look for increased defoliation, diminished leaf production, interior dieback, and small leaf size. Bark beetles also threaten the safety of your landscape, especially if your trees are a similar species as native trees in the wild.

You can leave the heavy lifting to a tree care company if your trees show any of the telltale signs of deterioration mentioned. Our expert arborists work with you to ensure your trees grow healthy during a drought without violating water restrictions. Contact us at Driscoll Tree Service and schedule a consultation with the experts. We offer a range of tree services without compromising quality at pocket-friendly rates.