Drought Killing Even Native Trees
According to an article in the Austin American-Statesman, arborists and foresters are reporting that trees throughout Central Texas, even native species such as live oak and hackberry, have succumbed after being ravaged by the long drought and intense summer heat.
Jim Houser of the Texas Forest Service said that the death of a tree is usually attributable to a number of factors, among them disease and insects. The combination of stress from the drought and heat is often the fatal blow.
The article offered three tips for keeping thirsty trees healty:
1. Soak the area under the tree canopy using a hand-held hose once a week with 5 gallons of water for every inch of trunk diameter.
2. Apply water slowly to let it soak in.
3. Spread 3 to 4 inches of mulch around the tree, keeping the mulch 6 inches away from the tree trunk.
To read the entire article written by Miguel Liscano click on the following:
http://www.statesman.com/search/content/news/stories/local/2009/09/01/0901trees.html
I’m not too sure about the mulch. I’ve found in the past that if we only get a half inch or so of rain, it doesn’t get past the mulch to the tree roots. I guess if the mulch is put over moist soil, it will help hold in the moisture, but unless we get a really soaking rain (which we haven’t in a long time) the rain may not even get to the tree roots.