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Summer Heat and Tree Stress in Folsom

Is your tree in Folsom stressed by the summer heat? Leaves going crispy? Limbs drooping by August? Call (279) 256-3385. We'll book a local tree trimming company in Folsom to examine it, and we'll share what you can do while you wait.

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What a stressed tree looks like

Folsom's climate is long, hot and dry in summer. At Folsom Dam, the July and August average high is 94 degrees.

The Sacramento Tree Foundation lists the signs of summer heat stress.

• Wilting leaves or drooping branches.
• Crispy brown or yellow spots on the leaves.
• Curling leaves.

Not every sign means a dying tree. But a thirsty tree is a weak tree, and weak trees attract trouble. Weak trees draw bark beetles, UC notes, especially ones hurt by drought, disease or injury.

How to water a mature tree in Folsom

Most of us water the lawn and forget the trees. Lawn sprinklers don't soak deep enough to reach tree roots.

The Sacramento Tree Foundation says established trees, meaning more than three years in the ground, need water about once a month in dry months. The trick is to water slowly and deeply.

1. Find the drip line. It's the circle under the tips of the branches.
2. Poke a screwdriver or probe in 6 inches near the drip line. Hard, dry, crumbly soil means it's time.
3. Soak slowly with a soaker hose or a low-set hose sprinkler until the water goes 12 to 18 inches down.
4. Don't water close to the trunk.
5. Wait until the soil dries again before the next soak.

Cost? The foundation figures about $3 a month to water a mature tree. That's cheaper than a bad tree.

Young trees need more

Newer trees are the weak spot. Trees under five years old are most at risk in the hot months. For the first three years, young trees need water one to three times a week.

That matters in newer parts of town. The Folsom Plan Area allows 11,000 homes south of Highway 50, and every one of those yards has young trees.

The exception for native oaks

Valley oaks, blue oaks and other natives grew up with dry summers. The foundation says some natives, like blue oaks, don't need summer water in normal years. UC goes further. It says not to irrigate mature, established trees that have never been irrigated, and to keep sprinklers from hitting the trunk. UC also says to prevent soggy soil around trees in summer. Armillaria, also called oak root fungus, is the worry.

If your oak is stuck in the middle of a lawn, UC suggests a mulched ring free of grass out to the dripline.

Mulch helps, rocks hurt

A layer of wood chips protects roots from extreme heat and keeps moisture in the soil. For a young tree, the foundation says to keep the chips four inches from the trunk and six inches deep.

Skip the rocks, decomposed granite, weed fabric and artificial turf. The foundation says they trap heat in the soil and shed water. And skip fertilizer unless a soil test shows a need. It pushes leafy growth, and leafy growth needs more water.

Summer tree trimming in Folsom: mostly don't

The foundation says there's no need to prune in summer except to remove broken or diseased branches. Growth after a summer cut needs more water.

The city agrees in its own way. Its standards say that taking live branches off a stressed tree in early summer can use up the tree's energy reserves.

There's also sunburn. UC says old bark that is suddenly exposed can burn, mostly on the south and west sides of the tree. UC suggests skipping summer pruning and keeping lower branches that shade the trunk. Burnt bark invites wood-boring pests.

Sticky leaves and sidewalks

Have you noticed a sticky shine on the car or the patio under a tree? Aphids. They sip sap and leave a sugary mess called honeydew. The Sacramento Tree Foundation says hackberries, red oaks and crape myrtles are favorites.

A few aphids are harmless to a healthy tree. Heavy numbers can curl leaves and drain it. A pro can tell you what's going on and whether it needs treatment.

Limbs that fall on calm days in Folsom

This one surprises people. UC says oak limbs sometimes drop on hot, calm summer days. The ones that break are often horizontal. A heavy limb above the house, walk or drive should come off before it drops, says UC. A pro can do that safely.

What tree trimming in Folsom costs

Costs rise when dead wood is high up or close to the house. The pro quotes after looking.

Why call us for tree trimming in Folsom

If your tree looks bad, you want an answer fast. We find a local pro who can come look, and help you compare if you want a second opinion.

How tree trimming in Folsom goes

1. Call (279) 256-3385, or use the request form.
2. Tell us what you see on the tree and how long it's been going on.
3. A pro near you gets the call.
4. The pro examines the tree and quotes any work.
5. You decide.

More to read: oak pruning, the month-by-month calendar, or the Folsom home page.