By Blake Jackson
Summer is often a time when routines shift and outdoor maintenance tasks, like riparian buffer care, take a backseat. However, proper buffer maintenance isn’t limited to tree planting in spring or fall.
Recently, Penn State Extension’s Water Resources Team collaborated with the Agriculture and Environment Center and the Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training to carry out buffer maintenance and replanting at two sites-Spring Creek in Dauphin County and the Southeastern Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SEAREC) in Landisville, PA.
These maintenance days were not only productive but also full of valuable insights. One key takeaway was that early summer is the ideal time to evaluate tree mortality. While it’s common to check trees in spring when buds are beginning to show, many trees display delayed growth.
For example, at the Dauphin County buffer-part of a research project that has tracked tree health since 2021-initial inspections on May 1, 2025, suggested some trees were dead.
However, by June 11, around 25% of those trees had produced new buds or sprouted from the stump, revealing they were still alive. This suggests that waiting until early summer provides a more accurate assessment of which trees need to be replaced.
Another important lesson involved understanding flood impacts. Though spring floods are more frequent, summer floods like those experienced this year can reveal how long water sits in certain areas.
At SEAREC, recent flooding showed the entire buffer area holds water longer than expected, reinforcing the need to select flood-tolerant tree species.
A frequently overlooked issue during flood recovery is the formation of soil voids beside tree tubes. These holes often appear after soil becomes saturated and washes away. If left unfilled, they can expose tree roots to air, increasing the risk of root damage and mortality, especially in younger trees.
Additionally, these gaps can attract burrowing animals. Fortunately, filling the holes with nearby soil is a simple and effective solution.
Ultimately, regular summer buffer maintenance helps ensure tree survival and long-term buffer success making it a season that shouldn’t be skipped.
Photo Credit: istock-pyzata
Categories: Pennsylvania, Weather