Parkview Nursery Jackson’s August Tree Survival Guide

The August Tree Survival Guide: Beat the Riverside Heat

“Expert Tips to Keep Your Trees Thriving All Summer Long”

August in the Inland Empire presents extreme high-heat environments with zero humidity and incredibly hot soil. Because the weather is so intense, we generally recommend holding off on planting new trees until the temperatures drop. Instead, August is all about defense and maintenance.

If you want to keep your backyard orchard and shade trees from frying up in the late-summer sun, follow our Parkview Nursery August Survival Protocol:

1. The Deep Soak (Hydration Over Saturation)

During triple-digit heatwaves, standard sprinklers are useless. A light daily sprinkle only wets the top inch of soil, which evaporates instantly and encourages weak, shallow roots.

  • The Fix: Trees require a slow, localized flood at the base to ensure water reaches the bottom of the root ball.

  • The Pro-Tip: Give your trees a slow, deep soak twice a week. If you don't have a drip system, place a 5-gallon bucket with a tiny hole drilled in the bottom next to the trunk. It acts as a perfect DIY slow-drip system!

A guide showing how to water trees properly in heatwaves. The problem with sprinklers causing evaporation and shallow roots, and the solution of a slow soak through a DIY slow-drip system using a five-gallon bucket twice a week.

2. Apply the Mulch "Donut"

Think of mulch as a protective sunhat for your tree's roots. It locks in moisture and drastically lowers the soil temperature.

  • The Fix: Apply a thick 3 to 4-inch layer of wood chips in a wide circle around the base to keep the root ball cool.

  • The Pro-Tip: Do not pile mulch up against the trunk like a volcano! Leave a 2-inch gap right at the trunk (creating a "donut" shape) to allow the bark to breathe and prevent bark rot.

A comparative illustration showing the wrong way and the right way to apply mulch around a tree. On the left, mulch is piled up against the trunk causing bark rot, with visual indicators of a too hot ground temperature; on the right, a wide circle of mulch is relieved around the base, allowing the bark to breathe, with visual indicators of appropriate moisture and soil temperature.

3. Shield the Bark from Sunburn

Young stone fruit trees (like peaches, nectarines, and plums) have paper-thin bark. When exposed to the blistering August sun, they face a high risk of severe bark sunburn, which can permanently damage the tree.

  • The Fix: Protect your young trees by applying a tree wrap or a temporary shade board on the south-facing side.

  • The Pro-Tip: For a permanent and traditional orchard solution, you can paint the young trunks with a 50/50 mix of white latex paint and water to reflect the sun and shield the bark.

Guide on protecting young trees from sunburn using tree wraps and paint. The left side shows a young tree wrapped with a breathable tree wrap and a temporary shade board on the south side. The tree has thin bark that is vulnerable to sun damage. The right side illustrates painting the tree trunk with a 50/50 mix of white latex paint and water to reflect sunlight and protect the bark. The image includes tools, a paint can labeled 50/50 Mix, and compass directions for proper placement.

4. Hold Off on Pruning and Fertilizing

When trees are battling extreme heat, they are already under stress.

  • The Fix: Put the pruning shears and heavy fertilizers away until the weather cools down. Pruning exposes inner leaves to unexpected sunburn, and fertilizing forces the tree to push out tender new growth that will instantly fry in the August heat. Let them rest!

  • Need supplies to beat the heat? > Stop by Parkview Nursery Jackson today! We are fully stocked with premium mulch, tree wraps, and the expert advice you need to get your garden safely through the summer.

A diagram contrasting wrong and right tree pruning methods. The left side shows a stressed tree with sunburned, scorched leaves and broken, dead branches, indicating improper pruning. The right side depicts a healthy, properly shaded tree with mulch, tree wraps, and expert advice, illustrating appropriate summer tree care.

**AI GENERATED IMAGE REPRESENTATION**

* Some of these trees might not qualify for the Riverside Shade Tree Program. If you have any questions or need more information, please visit the Riverside Public Utilities' website here.

    • Anna Apple

    • Dorsett Golden Apple

    • Fuji Apple

    • Gala Apple

    • Gordon Apple

    • Granny Smith Apple

    • King David Apple

    • Pink Lady (Cripps Pink) Apple

    • Gold Cot Apricot

    • Gold Kist Apricot

    • Katy Apricot

    • Cot-N-Candy Aprium

    • Leah Cot Aprium

    • Dapple Dandy Pluot

    • Flavor Grenade Pluot

    • Flavor King Pluot

    • Flavor Queen Pluot

    • Sweet Treat Pluerry

    • Spice Zee Nectaplum

    • August Pride Peach

    • Bonita Peach

    • Donut (“Stark Saturn”) Peach

    • Eva’s Pride Peach

    • July Elberta Peach

    • May Pride Peach

    • Mid-Pride Peach

    • Red Baron Peach

    • Babcock White Peach

    • Honey Babe Miniature Peach*

    • Pix Zee Miniature Peach*

    • El Dorado Miniature Peach*

    • Desert Delight Nectarine

    • Double Delight Nectarine

    • Heavenly White Nectarine

    • Panamint Nectarine

    • Snow Queen Necatine

    • Beauty Plum

    • Burgundy Plum

    • Elephant Heart Plum

    • Golden Nectar Plum

    • Mariposa Plum

    • Persian Green Plum

    • Santa Rosa Plum

    • Satsuma Plum

    • Lapins Cherry

    • Stella Cherry

    • Sequoia Cherry

    • Capulin Cherry

    • Black Jack Fig

    • Brown Turkey Fig

    • Janice Seedless Kadota Fig

    • Kadota Fig

    • Violette de Bordeaux Fig

    • Giant Fuyu Persimmons

    • Hachiya Persimmons

    • Fuyu 'Jiro' (on D. lotus) Persimmons

    • Li Jujube*

    • Manzanillo Olive

    • Mission Olive

    • Pakistan Fruiting Mulberry

    • O'Neal Southern Blueberry

    • Pink Lemonade Blueberry

    • Sunshine Blue Southern Blueberry

    • Baba Red Raspberry

    • Black Satin Thornless Blackberry

    • Thornless Boysenberry

    • Olallie Blackberry

    • Triple Crown Blackberry

    • Black Monukka Grape

    • Crimson Seedless Grape

    • Flame Seedless Grape

    • Princess Grape

    • Ruby Seedless Grape

Riverside Shade Tree Program

Program Disclaimer: Discount rates for Riverside Shade Tree Program are subject to city guidelines and vary based on the specific planting location. To ensure you receive the most accurate rate for your yard, please call ahead or speak with one of our nursery experts.

AI-generated photograph of rows of potted deciduous trees in a sunny nursery field, with a greenhouse and a blue sky in the background.