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Summer Tree Care

By Vanessa Richins, About.com

Summer can be a stressful time for trees due to the heat and possible droughts. Make sure you are watching them diligently for signs of trouble.

Selection/Planting

Trees can be planted in summer as long as you are willing to water diligently. However, there is a greater chance that the transplanted tree will be damaged or die due to the heat. Try to plant in fall or spring instead if possible.

Watering

Summer is the hottest and driest of the seasons. You will need to watch your trees more carefully, especially in times of drought. Keep an eye out for wilting. You may want to set up a watering system to help keep your trees watered enough.

Fertilizing

You can fertilize if needed (test your soil if you notice stunted growth, discolored or dead leaves, or wilting) in early summer. You should take care with using nitrogen fertilizers in late summer - they will promote new growth which may be damaged in winter.

Pruning

Focus more on simply removing dead, diseased or damaged branches. Many trees are more prone to diseases if pruned in late spring or summer. Some possible problems:

  • Oaks may get oak blight

  • Apples,crabapples,mountain ash, hawthorns and shrub cotoneasters may get fireblight

  • Honey Locust may get stem canker

  • Beetles may attack your trees
    • There are some trees you want to prune in early summer:

      • Spring flowering trees
      • Birches
      • Blue beech
      • Butternut
      • Ironwood
      • Maples
      • Fruits and Nuts to Harvest

        Fruits:

        • Apples
        • Apricots
        • tree.htm]Bananas
        • Cherries
        • Citrus fruits
        • Figs
        • Guavas (Florida)
        • Loquats (California)
        • Mangoes (Florida)
        • Nectarines
        • Papayas
        • Peaches
        • Pears
        • Plums

        Nuts:

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