Michigan summers are hot and humid! Unfortunately, all that heat can leave trees feeling parched, and the extra moisture is not good for keeping tree diseases at bay. Here’s how to care for your trees during the height of summer in Michigan.

Best Practices For Tree Care In Summer

Don’t Skimp On Fertilizer

Trees and shrubs need nutrients, just like we humans need vitamins. Unfortunately, drought conditions in summer can cause trees to stress out and deplete their nutrients. Thankfully, there’s a service called “deep-root fertilization.” It’s like a vitamin-B shot that you might get at the doctor’s office to give your energy levels a boost. Your lawn care service technician will use a specialized tool to inject nutrients directly into the root system of a tree rather than sprinkle fertilizer on the service as you would with turfgrass.

This accomplishes two things. Firstly, it bypasses anything that may compete with your trees. For example, if your tree is surrounded by turfgrass or planted in a flower bed, these other plants can pull nutrients away from your tree. Since trees need more nutrients than grass or flowers, this competition makes it harder for them to stay healthy. Deep-root fertilization solves this. It doesn’t give the grass or flowers a chance since only the tree root system will get the nutrients. Secondly, it delivers a dramatic dose of nutrients quickly, unlike slow-release fertilizer. If your tree has had health problems before or is starting to have them, this can help turn things around quickly.

Guard Against Insects

Insects can affect the health of your trees and shrubs. Some of the most common bugs we see in Michigan include:

• Mites
• Scale
• Weevils
• Moths
• Emerald ash borer
• Aphids

These creatures can decimate our beloved trees in no time at all. However, by using insecticide treatments throughout the season, you can kill off pests no matter which stage of their life cycle they’re in. We do this through dormant oil applications. Also known as “dormant oil,” horticulture oil is sprayed on the tree’s trunks, limbs, branches, and leaves. It will kill any bugs, no matter if they’re in the egg, larval, or adult stage of life. This immediately eliminates the insect problem, plus it remains on the tree for a long time, so it prevents new insects from moving in.

Treat For Diseases

Drought is a common problem in the summer, and it leads not only to parched trees but also to diseases. When trees lack water, it stresses them and makes them less resistant. Some common tree diseases we see in Michigan include:

• Powdery mildew
• Black knot
• Blisters
• Root rot
• Cankers
• Leaf spot
• Rust
• Apple scab
• Anthracnose

Fungicide treatments and disease control measures will keep your tree safe from harm and often reverse the problems if caught early. If you suspect your tree may be suffering from a fungal disease, don’t hesitate to call PPM Tree Service & Arbor Care. In many cases, pruning the infected area is enough to save the tree.

Prune, Trim, or Cable Unsafe Branches

Whether from disease, pests, or severe weather, sometimes our trees’ branches die. When that happens, it’s best to prune them. This will tell the plant to divert nutrients away from the struggling branch and focus on the healthy parts. It will also help your trees and shrubs maintain their shape. If you’ve spent at least one summer in Michigan, you know how severe our thunderstorms can get. Every year, thousands of homeowners across the state experience damaged property from fallen branches. If you are worried about a particular branch hanging over your home, garage, or another part of your property, consider having it cabled this summer. Our team will secure it with industrial-strength cables so if it were to break off, it will hang in the air – not fall on your property.

Hire Tree Care Service Near Detroit

PPM Tree Service & Arbor Care provides various tree and shrub care services to customers across metro Detroit, including Livonia, Canton, and as far west as Ann Arbor.  In addition to caring for your existing ornamental plants, we can also help you select a new tree to add to your yard or remove a dead or dying tree. In short, we’ll help you with your trees from saplings and up! If you’d like to learn more or schedule an appointment, give us a call at (877) 454-8733 or leave us a message online.

Don’t forget to check out other blog articles! We cover various topics like tree trivia, caring for trees in each season, and more! We’re also on social media! Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest!