The symptoms of leaf discoloration due to excess soil moisture usually start at the bottom and inside of the tree and work up, rather than from the top down as with drought stress trees. Ash, aspen, honeylocust, birch and maples are the most susceptible to drowning or wet soil conditions. To determine how much and how often water should be applied, use a shovel to check soil moisture to a depth of 10 to 12 inches. The soil should not be crumbly or dry. If the soil feels wet or forms and holds a ball when squeezed in the hand, the soil does not need to be irrigated.
Trees do best when there is time for the soil to drain and dry slightly between irrigations.
Many woody plants are damaged by early fall and late spring frosts. Depending on the time of year, frost injury is characterized by blackening or browning of foliage or newly emerged shoots and flowers all over the plant. In areas where frost pockets develop, only the lower plant parts may be affected. Plants are most susceptible to frost injury during the spring flush of growth. Spring frost injury often is more noticeable than fall injury, especially when new shoots of spruce droop and redden or fir shoots droop and turn light brown.