During the summer, your garden gives you lots of signs that it needs water. But did you know that your trees need plenty of water, too?

The folks at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society have put together a few handy tips for keeping your trees healthy and happy during the scorching heat of summer:

• Water when soil is dry beneath the mulch.
• Give trees (especially newly planted ones) about 15 to 20 gallons once a week from March through October, and twice a week during periods of no or little rain.
• Trickle water onto the soil surface using a hose, a bucket with small holes in the bottom, or a water bag.
• The best time to water is before 9 a.m. — during a drought, this may be the law in some communities. Check with your local municipality for watering restrictions.

for more tree care tips.