Some in Northern Virginia think this area isn’t under drought, they would be wrong because parts of the area are indeed under drought. In Fairfax County, Virginia, around 46% of people are under drought while the other half of Fairfax is under an abnormally dry status under the drought.gov website. The truth is since around the 2000s we have been in and out of drought and some years are worse than others. In this article we will go over what’s a drought, how to identify drought effects on your trees, also we will go over how trees use water.
Understanding Drought
A drought essentially means a prolonged period with low rainfall or even no rainfall. When talking about trees, a drought can affect the soil moisture by being too low for trees to properly grow. Around the DC area it’s split from being abnormally dry to drought status. This lack of rainfall also affects rivers, lakes and reservoirs. There’s a higher risk of wildfire due to everything in the forest being so dry.
How trees use water
Trees absorb water through root hairs on the ends or along the stem of a root. Not only does this aid in water absorption, but it also absorbs dissolved minerals up to the tree. The Zylem inside the tree is the place where the flow of water and minerals goes through a tree’s stem and branches, even the leaves.
Through the process of transpiration, water is absorbed by the roots to later be evaporated as vapor at the stomata of a leaf, stems and flowers. As found on the Purdue Landscape Report from Purdue University, it’s said that trees can absorb between 10 and 150 gallons of water daily depending on the size of the tree. They also claim that all the water absorbed by plants, less than 5% remains in the plant for growth
How trees are affected by drought
The effects of a drought on trees may not be apparent immediately and may be shown years later. There are also immediate effects that may occur during drought stressed soil. Some of the immediate effects on trees are leaf wilting or curling, early leaf drop and stunted growth. Internally drought affects photosynthesis and creates a weaker root system. There’s also an increased vulnerability to pests and diseases, sunscald or heat damage and a higher mortality risk all together. Long term consequences are loss of canopy through dieback of the limbs. Dieback is when the tips of a branch die leaving some of the interior branches with growth.
Identifying water stress on trees
Leaf Symptoms
- Wilting or Curling – Leaves droop, curl at the edges, or hang limp.
- Discoloration – Leaves may turn yellow or brown, starting at the edges.
- Scorching – Dry, crispy patches on leaves, especially along the margins.
- Premature Leaf Drop – Trees shed leaves earlier than normal to conserve water.
Branch and Crown Signs
- Thinning Canopy – The crown looks sparse because of fewer or smaller leaves.
- Dieback – Smaller twigs and branches at the top or edges of the tree start dying.
- Reduced New Growth – Few new shoots or smaller-than-normal leaves.
In conclusion, pay attention to your soil and whether you are in a drought zone. A simple google search can help you with that. A would recommend a water routine when dealing with your dry soil. It’s recommended that you consult an irrigation service when dealing with drought affected yards. When it comes to the trees, AAA Tree Service is ready to help identify stressed trees in your yard. We have been serving Northern Virginia for over 40 years. Check out our rating on google if you need some proof that we are the right company to help with your trees.