Shallow rooted species such as red maple or hemlock. If this is not practical, prioritize based on the above list, plus any trees of particular significance or value. Mulch Use generous amounts of organic mulch such as woodchips, shredded hardwood or bark to help the soil retain moisture. Place the mulch in the planting beds or within the drip line of the canopy wherever practical. Antidesiccant Treat evergreens and new transplants with an organic polymer to reduce water loss and prevent browning due to sunscald and windburn.
Nutrients Help reestablish root hairs by saturating the root zone with sea-kelp based products.
Nutrients improve the tree's growing environment and facilitate recovery. As trees are particularly vulnerable during periods of drought, it is essential to minimize future stress, avoid all or partial defoliation, and help prevent insect and disease conditions from proliferating. Prune, cable and brace to prevent storm damage Identify and prune out dead, weak and diseased limbs. Look for included bark, cracks or cavities to see which trees require cabling or bracing so they are better able to withstand winter winds, heavy snow and ice. While most healthy trees will not immediately die as a result of drought, we must carefully manage optimum growing conditions as the addition of a second stress factor during the two or three years following drought could be detrimental to their health.