Page 16 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 1 2025

IN THE GARDEN

CARING FOR YOUR

TREES THIS SUMMER

is a science – this is why you should try to

leave it up to the professionals. You should
try to limit your pruning to the dormant sea-
son, but sometimes it is necessary to prune
your trees in summer. You should remove
any branches or leaves that are diseased,
damaged or dead. Flowering trees should
only be pruned in the early summer, after
they have finished blooming.

STORM DAMAGE
Summer rain storms can cause damage to
trees and property, and it is important to
assess the health and strength of your trees
after every heavy storm. You may need to
consult a tree care specialist to assess the
safety of large trees. You could also brace
and/or secure weak limbs with cables, if it
is not necessary to completely remove the
limb.

aring for your trees during the TREE PEST INSPECTIONS
summer months is just as You should always keep an eye on your
important as during any other trees and examine them frequently
Cseason. Here are a few tips and throughout the summer to check for
techniques you can use to take care of your pests and diseases. Most insects
trees during the long, hot summer! are not harmful to trees but some
can be devastating to the health
MULCHING of a tree. Inspecting your trees
The best time for mulching trees would be regularly will ensure that you catch
spring time, but you will also be able to suc- any potential infestations early,
cessfully mulch your trees in summer and and will prevent the loss of these
still reap many of the benefits. Mulch keeps precious, oxygen producing trees.
your soil temperatures cool by helping to
conserve the moisture in the soil, and sup- PRUNING
presses the growth of weeds. Keep in mind Pruning trees is as much an art as it
that you shouldn’t mulch against the trunk
of the tree as this can cause the trunk to
rot over time. Rather make a donut shaped
mulch layer around your trees.
IRRIGATION
South African summers can get quite hot,
so it may be necessary for you to water your
trees regularly, especially if the tree is young
or newly planted. Trees need, on average,
one inch of water per week, and it is much
more effective to water a tree well, less
frequently, as you need to make sure that
the water penetrates deeper into the ground
to reach the deep roots of the trees.
Elephants in Pilansberg
FERTILISER
National Park
Just like humans, trees need nutrients to
support leaf and shoot growth, and to fend
off diseases and pests. Trees growing in
urban areas or high stress areas will need
more fertiliser than trees growing in natural
areas.
Article courtesy of Brands Tree Felling

14 DPL issue 1 2025