Watering trees is a must to protect them from severe weather and drought

SAN ANTONIO — After yesterday’s hail damage to the NW side of San Antonio, many of you may be thinking how do I protect my home from weather damage. One of the things you may not think to protect are your trees.

Arborists say trees are a lot like people. If they are happy, healthy and strong going into a weather event it is much easier to stop damage, especially when it comes to the drought. That’s why make sure they are well maintained, fed, and watered before a storm is a must.

Jess Divin from the Davey Tree Expert Company told us, “Watering the night before is not really going to help a tree the day of. They really need time to move that water into their vascular tissue, out to the leaves and things like that. So making sure that, again, preemptive, keeping them well fed, well watered, well pruned and mitigate those hazards before they become hazards.” 

Experts say many people over-mulch, with six to eight inches, but you only need two or three, or you could prevent getting water to the roots of the tree.