While spring and fall tend to be the busiest seasons for tree service, don’t completely ignore your trees in the summer. The intense heat and sunlight pose unique challenges. Ensure your foliage continues to thrive by performing these few simple tasks.

How to Care for Your Trees in Summer

1. Pruning

Although most tree pruning is best left to the dormant months, some trimming is necessary during summer. Dead and diseased limbs should be removed to prevent rot and potential pest infestations. However, as pruning creates open wounds that attract pests, take care to paint over cuts to reduce this risk. Also, some light pruning is all right for fruit trees and evergreens. If you have any sappy hardwoods on your property like maples, walnuts, or birches, summer is the preferred time for pruning as they tend to ooze sap in the winter. To maintain the beauty and longevity of all your trees, hire a capable crew of tree service professionals to prune them.

2. Mulching

Adding a layer of mulch around your tree helps to keep the roots beneath the soil cool and to retain moisture. Mulching also helps to fend off weeds, which compete with trees for water. Place a ring of organic mulch, either wood chips or bark, around the trunk, leaving at least three inches of space between the base to prevent rot. 

3. Cabling

Both young and old trees are susceptible to storm damage. Tree cabling lends structural support to weak limbs and branches. Attaching high-strength steel cables to pegs hammered into the soil at the base of a tree limits branch movement and prevents breaks when strong winds hit. For the best results, hire a professional tree service to perform cabling work as inexperienced hands sometimes cause damage.

Another critical step in caring for your trees is to have annual inspections performed. The professionals at Putnam County Tree Service provide a full suite of tree care services, including pruning, tree removal, stump grinding, and cabling, for residents of Cookeville, TN. Their experts are fully licensed, insured, and ready when you need 24-hour emergency service. Call them at (931) 528-3828 to schedule an inspection, or visit their website to learn more about their service offerings.