You know those days when the sky and the clouds are grey all day and the rain just keeps on coming down nonstop? It can be a bummer for you and a bummer for your Cleveland area trees. After a long dry spell in the forecast, trees will gladly welcome a nice, full rain. Relentless or nonstop rain April showers, may actually NOT bring May flowers or growth if it becomes too much for the tree to handle.
What is actually going on with your tree when the rain just will not end? Even though a tree’s roots are buried underneath layers of soil and possibly mulch, the tiny spaces in the soil’s composition or pores, ensures that enough oxygen can reach the tree’s roots. When long periods of rain come to stay a while the water fills up and, in a way, “clogs” the pores so that the oxygen supply is barricaded from the roots. This can lead to problems like root rot, harmful fungal diseases, or other infections that could compromise the tree’s overall health. Visible symptoms would come in the form of yellowed or rotting leaves that prematurely drop.
To clarify on what counts as “too much rain”… there is no exact measure and no guarantees because every tree has different needs. In general though, you shouldn’t worry if there have been a couple of rainy days in a row. However, it might be a concern with days of above-average rainfall that lasts for a while.
We can not change the weather, but we can give our trees the best possible chance at surviving. Once the rain subsides, avoid watering your tree until the soil is completely dry. To do this, dig into the tree’s soil about six inches… this is a safe depth to know if the soil is still damp or wet. Next, don’t fertilize just yet; fertilizer encourages trees to use their energy to foster new growth. What your tree needs at this time is to focus its energy on recovering. Lastly, if you are unsure if your tree is able to recover or you are worried it may have another problem like a fungal disease, it is best to call on an expert. A Cleveland arborist at VanCuren is ready to answer your questions.
Concerned about your overwatered tree? VanCuren has proudly been providing Cleveland tree services for years — we want the trees in your beautiful Cleveland neighborhood to grow strong and healthy. Also, we can assist you with more projects like: tree trimming, tree removal, and even emergency tree removal.
