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Drought-Stressed Trees in El Dorado Hills

Is your tree in El Dorado Hills looking thirsty? Call us now at (530) 255-2773. A local tree trimming company can tell dry from diseased. We'll book the look.

A dry tree doesn't always shout. Sometimes it just gets quiet, and a year later you're looking at dead limbs.

Why summers are hard on El Dorado Hills trees

Wikipedia's weather table for El Dorado Hills shows an average July high of 94.1 degrees. It lists no July rain at all. June gets about a third of an inch, and the whole year adds up to about 26.5 inches, almost all of it from fall to spring.

Those numbers are simulated normals for 1991 to 2020. They are a guide, not a forecast. But the pattern is plain. Trees spend half the year living off what the winter left in the ground.

How to spot drought stress

UC Master Gardeners say to look in the late afternoon, when a thirsty tree shows it most. Here are the signs.

• Wilting, drooping or yellow leaves that curl or drop.
• Leaves that are faded green or gray.
• Brown tips, brown edges, or brown between the veins.
• On evergreens, yellow, red or purple needle tips.

The same guide adds a key point. Even if drought doesn't kill a tree, it can make the tree easier for pests and disease to hurt.

UC's bark beetle guide backs that up. It warns that local beetles usually pick on trees already weakened by dry spells, rot or injury. So a dry pine can turn into a beetle problem.

How to water a tree the right way

The main idea is slow and deep. Quick sprinkles don't reach the roots.

• Most roots are in the top 3 feet of soil. They extend well beyond the drip line.
• Water slowly. The goal is to wet the top 12 inches of soil without runoff.
• A common guide is about 10 gallons per inch of trunk width, every 5 to 10 days.
• Clay soil holds water longer than sandy soil. Adjust for yours.
• Check with a probe. Push a screwdriver into the soil two days after watering.

UC's bark beetle guide gives another number for dry spells. It suggests watering trees infrequently, like twice a month, but with enough water to soak about a foot down.

Oaks are the exception. The Master Gardener talk says native oaks mostly don't want summer water. If an oak is struggling in a long drought, see our page on oaks in yards.

Mulch and the soil

UC Master Gardeners suggest 4 inches of mulch under the tree, kept 6 inches from the trunk so it doesn't rot. Use wood chips, not rock. They say rock mulch can raise the tree's water needs. Also pull out turf and weeds under the canopy, since they compete for the same water.

Keep the soil from packing. Don't drive or park on the roots.

Should you trim a dry tree in El Dorado Hills?

Mostly not. The UC Master Gardener drought guide says not to fertilize or prune, because that pushes new growth, and new growth needs more water. But it says to cut off diseased, damaged and dead branches. That helps ease stress.

So this is a good time for a cleanup, and a bad time for a big shaping job. A pro can help sort out which is which.

Dead limbs are also a hazard. The Master Gardener oak talk warns about summer limb drop on hot, calm days, and says drought stress may add to it, but not always.

Is the tree worth saving?

The UC guide says mature landscape and fruit trees are worth saving. It also says you may want to remove a tree that isn't right for the site, such as a thirsty tree that is lifting a sidewalk or crowding the foundation. That is a choice for you and your pro.

What drought tree care in El Dorado Hills costs

Homeyou says dead wood work costs more when it is high up, near a building, or mixed in with live growth. These are national numbers, so use them as a rough map.

When it isn't drought at all

Leaves that wilt and yellow can fool you. The same signs show up with too much water. According to the Master Gardener oak talk, Phytophthora crown and root rot is fed by soggy soil and drainage trouble. Leaves discolor, stunt, wilt or drop early, and the roots turn dark and decayed.

So don't add water just because the leaves droop. Dig a small hole a few inches deep near the drip line and feel the soil. Damp and cool means the roots have water. Dry and dusty means they may need it.

The talk says draining standing water may help a tree with root rot. It also says Armillaria likes warm, wet soil and has no reasonable cure. Powdery mildew, which shows as white powder, is another look-alike. On blue oaks it is common after a wet spring and needs no action.

When you can't tell, call. A pro can read the signs in a few minutes.

Why El Dorado Hills tree trimming starts with a call

You may not need a trim at all. You may need a hose and a clock. A good pro will say so. We find one who gives honest answers, and we book the visit.

Tree trimming in El Dorado Hills, step by step

1. Call or send the form. Tell us what the leaves look like.
2. We set a visit with a nearby pro.
3. The pro checks the roots, the soil and the crown.
4. You hear whether it's water, pests or something else.
5. If work is needed, you get the price first.