Fall enthusiasts may be disappointed with this season’s changing leaves. Drought conditions are likely to leave Ontario’s trees less than vibrant.
“With both the heat and the drought this summer, the colours most likely will be more dull,” says Ian Laidlaw, the Ottawa area manager of the Davey Tree Expert Company. “Because of our ever changing climate, the temperatures are going up and down like crazy, so it’s really starting to impact the trees in a negative way.”
High temperatures combined with low rainfall have put serious stress on many of Ontario’s trees. Laidlaw explains that the lack of water causes duller colours such as yellows or browns. It also causes the leaves to change colour earlier in the season. Without ample water, trees stop the production of chlorophyll, the chemical process that keeps leaves green.
“I’ve got a property on the Quebec side that overlooks the Gatineau hills and the leaves are already changing colour,” he says.
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The drought conditions could have long-term effects on the trees. Laidlaw says that up to three years after a season like this summer you can still see signs of stress, whether that’s wilting leaves, not as vibrant green colours, or early leaf fall. And because of modern landscaping choices, many trees have to compete with grass for water, which isn’t the case in natural forest environments.
“Over the last five or six years, conditions are progressively getting worse,” says Laidlaw. “The trees, they’re just not acclimatized to what we are living nowadays.”
Laidlaw compares trees to humans. If our immune system is weak it opens us up to colds. Same with trees. Drought conditions can leave trees more vulnerable to problematic insects and diseases, eventually killing them.
If you’re worried about tree health on your property, there are a few easy steps you can take to help them out during droughts. Laidlaw recommends watering the trees once a week. Spray the water on the ground at the edge of where the branches end. This way it will saturate down to the roots. A soaker hose works best. Try not to use a sprinkler as this coats the leaves in water and can open the tree up to other problems. Maintain a watering strategy until October, increasing the frequency during dry stretches and decreasing during rainy stretches.
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You can also spread composted bark, wood chips, shredded leaves, and pine needles around the base of the trees. This mulch shouldn’t be more than eight centimetres deep. Spread it around the tree like a doughnut rather than a volcano. This helps the soil maintain moisture which the tree needs.
These tips should help ailing trees bounce back, keeping their leaves longer into the fall season. But Laidlaw points out that tree health can be delicate. If you have questions about keeping your trees vibrant, it may be best to call an expert. “Get a certified arborist out there and they can help you walk through the process,” he says. “More often than not it’s a case-by-case basis.”
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