As the temperatures start to heat up in Palm Harbor, Florida, homeowners will begin watering their yards and pruning their trees. While we all know that water is essential to sustaining human and plant life, too much can be detrimental. That said, here’s a short lesson on how you should water your trees so you’re not giving them too much.

How Does Too Much Water Impact Trees?

Tree roots begin to suffocate and will eventually die when oxygen isn’t able to access them. This happens when water fills the spaces between soil particles and there isn’t any room left for the air to enter. Overly wet soil also attracts root rot organisms, which leads to disease and decay. Generally, it’s best to keep soil moist and to let it dry between watering. Conversely, cypress, sycamore and river birch trees are all tolerant of extremely wet soil. Keep that in mind when establishing watering habits.

Signs That Your Trees are Receiving Too Much Water

While you can feel the soil to sense how moist or wet it is, here are some other signs of overwatering:

• Leaves will start turning yellow on the lower branches on the inside of the canopy
• Young shoots will begin to wilt
• Leaves that are green will become brittle
• Tree roots will become dark brown or black, which is a symptom of root rot
• Algae or fungus will begin growing on the soil’s surface or on the surface roots

How Should You Water Your Trees Properly

In most cases, you should water trees once a week during growing season, depending on rainfall totals and the temperature outside. As a general rule of thumb, use five gallons of water per each inch of trunk diameter for optimal tree care.

Of course, some trees might need more water than others, so check the soil around the tree to ensure you’re not watering too much or too little. To do this, simply dig a one-inch hole in the soil around the tree and feel for how wet it is. If it’s dry, water it. If it’s moist, wait another day or two and check again. If it’s wet, leave it alone for a week before checking again.

For more information about how you should be watering and tree pruning, check out these spring tree care tips or contact us at (727) 478-2864. We specialize in tree removal, in case you have diseased and dead trees that are occupying your yard because of over- or under- watering.