The ongoing California drought has generated some impacts in our region that you may not have expected. For example, the Stay Green Plant Health Care team is reporting that many customers need treatments for pine and redwood trees that have incurred drought-related salt damage.

The salt damage is a result of our lack of rainfall over the past couple of years. Even though trees are irrigated, the treated municipal water that’s used for irrigation contains chlorides, which is not a major problem under normal circumstances.

Typically, the salt-free rain water falls often enough to dissipate and wash away the salt buildup. However, with no rainfall, the salt just accumulates, and stresses the trees.

In the case of pine trees, the problem is a several-step chain reaction: No rain means salt buildup, which stresses pine trees, which makes them a target for spider mites, which invites bark beetles, which eat the tree’s vascular system and can kill it.

Redwoods, which aren’t native to Southern California but have been planted in many locations, are also susceptible to salt damage, which makes the foliage turn brown.

To treat the salt damage on redwoods and pines, the Stay Green team of experts utilizes special drenching treatments that leach out the salt, and restore the trees’ health.

If you are experiencing problems with salt-damaged trees on your property, please call Stay Green at (800) 741-9150 to schedule a visit from our Plant Health Care experts!

More Drought-Busting Tips

Ready to do your part to help beat the drought? Homeowners can preserve the beauty of their landscapes while saving water inside and outside the home with these tips and more to come:

Outdoor

Use a “Smart”Controller: Check with your water company for information about Weather Based Irrigation Controllers. Many water agencies are providing them for free or at a reduced cost. These “smart” controllers sense weather patterns and water your landscape only when it needs it. Not too much, not too little. Just right.

Indoor

Defrosting Dinner? If you need to defrost food, let it sit in the refrigerator, or use your microwave, rather than running it under tap water.