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Tree Care

How The Weather Affects Trees in Alberta

By January 14, 2021February 5th, 2021No Comments

2020 was certainly unpredictable. There was nothing normal about 2020, including the weather in Calgary and Red Deer.

Well, actually that depends on how long you’ve lived in Alberta and where you live. If you’ve lived here long enough, our weather extremes and the unpredictability of what a day will bring, becomes ‘normal’. You’re not surprised; you’ve seen it all.

Snow

In Alberta, we have experienced snow every month of the year. Yes, even in summer. According to Global News, “In fact, Environment Canada meteorologist Dan Kulak said that Calgary has recorded snow during every month of the year.”

Who remembers the snow that fell on the Big Valley Jamboree?  “Sept. 7, 1992: First Big Valley Jamboree couldn’t be stopped by snow”.

And snow on the May long weekend, is pretty normal too.

And yes, sometimes the snow in the summer is significant, such as SnowTember in September 2014, which damaged a lot of trees.

Photo taken in SW Calgary, September 8, 2014.

Snow in October is not much of a surprise, but the amount we had in 2020 was the shocker. And it stuck around for quite a while.

While there are many bad things about unpredictable weather, it is also hard on your trees.

How the Weather Affects Your Trees

As CBC shared in the headline of this article from 2018, “Calgary’s erratic weather is killing off trees”.

It goes on to say, “Spring floods, hot summers, early frosts, ‘Snowtember’ have all taken their toll, arborist says.”

While we don’t claim to be arborists at Earth Smart Property Solutions, we do know how to care for your trees and shrubs and offer spring and fall tree and shrub deep root fertilizer services, soil drenches to help with Birch Leaf Miners on birch trees plus we offer light pruning and hedge trimming.

Erratic weather is stressful for trees. When trees are stressed by dramatic changes in weather, it weakens their immune systems and can translate into trees not sprouting buds or leaves in the spring and they can become vulnerable to being attacked by disease and insects.

According to the article, with quotes provided by Arborist Matthew Davis “Heat can reduce a tree’s ability to hydrate, as the pores on the bottom side of the leaves close up.

As for extreme cold, a fast frost can cause water to get trapped in the tree, which as it freezes causes the trees’ cells to explode.”

What You Can do to Help Your Trees

In the article, “He (Davis) also suggested giving trees deep, infrequent watering to encourage drought resistance, and ensure they have the nutrients they need going forward, by ensuring trees have compost, fertilizer or mulch added to their soil.”

Applying deep root fertilizer to your trees in the spring and fall is extremely beneficial for them in the fight against these curveballs from mother nature. Utilizing deep root fertilizer to trees in the spring provides them with the necessary blend of nutrients for healthy growth and provides increased resistance to disease and pests. Applying deep root fertilizer in the fall increases the plant’s ability to produce and store energy reserves before freeze-up and will assist with winter hardiness. Providing them with these nutrients improves their health including their root systems and vigor as well their appearance.

Need help with your trees?

Click on Request a Quote and we’d be happy to help.  But if it’s out of our expertise we will recommend an arborist.

 

Sources:

CBC, “Calgary’s erratic weather is killing off trees”

Global News, “Snow in September? It’s not unheard of for Albertans”

CBC, Sept. 7, 1992: First Big Valley Jamboree couldn’t be stopped by snow”