Marking the first day of summer, we released our Summer Almanac, a tree care guide to help individuals prepare trees on and surrounding their property for D.C.'s hot, dry summer months.
Casey Trees advises District residents to:
- Practice 25 to Stay Alive. Trees, especially those that have been in the ground less than three years, need 25 gallons of water - approximately 1.5 inches of rainfall - per week in the spring, summer and fall to survive and thrive.
- Weed. Remove summer grasses from around the trunk.
- Check Trunk Guards. Weed whackers and lawn mowers can cause severe damage to a tree's circulation system. Add tree guards to the base of the tree if landscaping equipment is used around the tree. Check installed tree guards to make sure they are installed properly.
- Check Arbor Ties. Your tree started growing in height and girth in the spring and will continue to do so this summer. If your tree is still anchored by stakes and arbor ties, check the ties. Remove them if they are too tight or girdling the tree trunk. Anticipate your tree will put on some new girth.
- Mulch. Mulching helps keep the soil moist and controls weeds. If you did not mulch in spring, now would be a good time. Apply the "3-3-3 Rule" - three inches of mulch in a three-foot ring with a three-inch space around the tree trunk to prevent decay.
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