A stretch of high heat with little rain hits young trees the hardest, and right now we're seeing scorched, browning leaf margins on trees planted in the last year or two across Franklin and the surrounding area.
Established trees have root systems that reach deep and wide enough to find moisture even during a dry spell. A newly planted tree hasn't built that reserve yet, so it's pulling from a much smaller, shallower area of soil that dries out fast in this kind of heat.
Leaf scorch isn't always fatal, but it's a clear signal the tree is under more stress than it can handle on its own, and repeated stress like this over a summer or two is often what determines whether a young tree makes it to maturity.
Did you plant anything new this year that's looking a little rough right now?
#TreeCare
Photo of a young or recently planted tree showing scorched or browning leaf edges. Authentic job photos preferred over stock imagery.
Canva text suggestion: "Is Your Young Tree Showing Leaf Scorch?" or "New Trees Need Extra Care in This Heat"