Franklin Tree Service

Middle Tennessee summers can be deceiving. We get enough rain that most homeowners don't think of drought as a local problem, but the combination of heat, high evaporation rates, and compacted clay soils means that established trees can be showing drought stress even when the lawn looks fine.

What does drought stress look like on a tree? Wilting or curling leaves, early leaf drop, leaves that look scorched or brown at the edges without any visible pest or fungal issue, and reduced new growth are all signals. In severe cases, you'll see premature yellowing of foliage well before fall. The tricky part is that these symptoms don't always appear until weeks after the stress event occurred, so trees that look fine today may be reacting to conditions from two or three weeks ago.

Oaks, maples, and dogwoods are particularly sensitive in our area. If you have young trees planted in the last two or three years, they're at much higher risk than established trees and should be watered during extended dry stretches even when we're getting occasional rain.

When in doubt, a professional assessment is the fastest way to know what you're dealing with. Franklin Tree Service offers free estimates and our ISA-certified arborist can walk your property and give you a clear picture of what your trees need. Are there any trees on your property that have seemed off this summer, even if you can't quite put your finger on why?