Newer trees are struggling more than established ones in Birmingham's summer heat right now, and the reason comes down to roots, not age.
Trees planted within the past few years haven't developed deep root systems yet, so they depend on shallow soil moisture that dries out quickly in extended heat. Scorched leaf edges and early leaf drop on maples and dogwoods are the earliest signs of drought stress in the area.
Deep, infrequent watering supports root growth far better than frequent shallow watering, which trains roots to stay near the surface where heat and drought hit hardest.
#TreeCare #BirminghamAL #DroughtStress #TreeHealth
A real photo showing a young tree with visible leaf stress, or a crew member checking soil moisture at the base of a recently planted tree.
Canva text suggestion: "Is Your Young Tree Showing Heat Stress?" or "Deep Watering Beats Daily Sprinklers"