Terry's Gardening Tips
2007 drought affecting Montgomery trees
Last year’s drought we experienced here in Southern Ohio was extremely tough on our trees. A year later, you can see the damage that the drought caused, although it can take as long as 3 to 5 years to see damage results. Some varieties of trees took a harder hit than others. Maple, Hickory and Linden trees all suffered, but none more than the Norway spruce. The brown branches in and on the trees are now dead and will not come back.
If you have an Evergreen tree such as a Norway spruce that is totally brown, it is most likely dead. Calling a Certified Arborist can assist you with making that determination. It is important to remove dead trees before they become weaker and in danger of falling, possibly causing damage and/or personal injury.
The brown tips of hardwood trees (such as Oaks & Dogwoods) around town are not from drought damage but from the recent invasion of the 17-year cicada that we just experienced here in Montgomery. Under normal circumstances this should not kill your tree. (Unless your tree was already under stress.) There is no need to do anything now except maybe prune the dead branches off if the tree is small enough to reach. I would recommend a light fertilization in the spring. The cicadas did do a wonderful job of aerating the soil though. So far, with the temperatures and rain fall we have experienced this year, it is just what the doctor ordered for recovering from the 2007 draught.
Continue to give your trees and plants a good soaking of water around the drip line of the tree once a week well into late Fall. Trees require at least an inch of rain per week so plan your watering based on rainfall.