That education becomes increasingly important as the effects of heat extend beyond a single summer. Heat stress can affect a tree’s immediate appear- ance, its ability to defend itself against insects and disease, and its capacity to recover from other environmental challenges. At the same time, the con- ditions surrounding the tree – from soil moisture and organic matter to species selection and planting decisions – can influence how well it withstands those pressures. As temperatures continue to rise across the country, heat stress and its man- agement will become an issue more arborists will have to address. The most effective response may not always be an immediate treatment. In many cas- es, it begins with understanding what the tree is experiencing, giving it time to respond, and creating the soil, root, and environmental conditions that al- low it to withstand the next season of heat.
consider the conditions it may face throughout its lifetime. For Wagner, that kind of forward think- ing also means changing the way the industry approaches drought and heat stress. Rather than treating heat-re- lated problems only after they appear, arborists can incorporate drought and heat resilience into their planning and conversations with clients. “Drought or drought stress is an after- thought in our industry,” she said. Wagner believes arborists should be well educated on how to support heat- stressed trees and able to communicate management plans that help clients understand what their trees need – not only during periods of extreme weather but also before those conditions occur. “By having educated and well-versed stewards of our trees, they’re able to carry these conversations with land- owners more readily,” he explained.
then responding, tree care professionals are increasingly considering how plant- ing and management decisions made years in advance can influence a tree’s ability to withstand those conditions. As the climate continues to warm, it is altering how tree care professionals approach planting and long-term tree management. “It adapts your ideas for what you want to plant for future trees,” Brewer ex- plained. “We have to plant different spe- cies that are adapted to our conditions.” That does not necessarily mean abandoning native plants in favor of non-native species. Instead, Brewer often travels south to observe what is thriving in warmer conditions be- cause he anticipates that those same temperatures may eventually become more common in his region. The idea is to look beyond the condi- tions a tree experiences today and
66 | Fall 2026 ArborTIMES ™
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