Archives 2018

Dear Texas Tree Surgeons,

My Chinese pistaches are looking terrible! The leaves are yellowing, the berries are black, and it looks like it’s dying. What’s going on?

-A.B.

For many years, the Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) has been well-regarded as a landscape shade tree for urban environments in Texas. Although native to China, this species of pistache (related to the nut-bearing pistachio tree) can thrive in a variety of conditions. The Chinese pistache is a fast grower and is resistant to heat, drought, and alkaline soil, all common in North Texas. Like the native red oak, the Chinese pistache is a reliable source of fall color. The dark red berries that female Chinese pistaches produce are not only striking, but can attract birds and other wildlife. For many builders and landscapers, the Chinese pistache is a go-to choice.

This year, however, we have been seeing unprecedented dieback and wilting of leaves and berries in Chinese pistaches. Entire trees are exhibiting leaf spotting and extensive browning. Similar to the browning present in Italian cypresses the past two years, it seems that the Chinese pistache dieback is caused by a fungus. And much like the Italian cypress issues, there may not be much that can be done at this point.

Water, Water Everywhere

Recent wet weather, combined with poor drainage in clay soils, creates a “wet feet” situation in trees, where their roots are inundated with too much moisture. Trees that are not suited to wet soils are not able to regulate the high moisture level in their roots effectively. The roots then become susceptible to pests, especially fungi, which thrive in damp, poorly-drained soil. As the tree root tissue becomes waterlogged, the fungi are able to gain a foothold in the roots and begin infecting the tree internally. Eventually, the tree’s vascular system itself becomes the mechanism by which the fungal spores are spread throughout the branches, leaves, and fruit. The fungus disrupts cell function in the above-ground parts of the tree, just as it did in the roots.

What Can We Do About It?

Unfortunately, there is often little that can be done to improve overall drainage in clay soil. Still, there are some things that tree owners can do to give their trees the best chance:

• Select native species that are well-adjusted to the North Texas climate
• When planting, do not plant too deep, and follow good mulching practices
• For established trees, do not overplant the area near the root collar and inside the drip line with turf grass or other groundcover
• Consider root collar excavation (Airspading) for trees that were planted too deep
• Vertical mulching and soil aeration can help break up heavy clay and compacted ground
• Stop watering and turn off sprinkler systems during periods of heavy rain

Sometimes, despite best practices, fungal infections cannot be avoided. At the first signs of leaf spotting, or unseasonal browning or wilting, contact a certified arborist to diagnose any issues with your trees. Your arborist can suggest a plant health care program. Fungicidal treatments can be helpful, but must be timed appropriately. Once a tree shows extensive browning or dieback, it is often too late for fungicides to be effective.

If It’s Too Late…

If your trees are covered in dead berries and have dropped a lot of leaves already, it is unlikely that a fungicide would have much effect. The best thing to do would be to remove any diseased material from the tree, do as much as you can to improve drainage, and begin a fertilization program. With a good winter freeze, the fungus should die off. In the spring, reevaluate the tree for early signs of new or lingering fungal activity, and treat as appropriate.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees, and we hate to see a new problem arise that affects a common and much-relied-upon tree like the Chinese pistache. We have submitted samples to the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab and are awaiting the results. With proper identification, we may be able to better control the particular fungus in the future. We will be sure to let you know what we find out. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates!

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We received our results from Texas A&M. The samples we submitted from one Chinese pistache specimen showed evidence of both Phytophthera root rot and Anthracnose stress.

Phytophthera is a pathogen that causes damage to root tissue which can lead to the death of a tree. Phytophthera’s activity is enhanced by wet soil conditions and poor drainage. While fungicidal treatments can be applied, they will be of little benefit unless the underlying moisture and drainage issues are corrected.

Anthracnose is cause by a fungal pathogen, and can take advantage of plants that are already weakened by other stressors. The best method of managing anthracnose is to clean up and dispose of any fallen infected leaves or berries. Fungal sprays may be applied, but are generally not recommended during late summer or autumn, as the trees are preparing to go dormant for the winter, and the fungus should decline naturally.

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As always, please let us know if you have any tree questions. We are always happy to have a certified arborist come out and take a look a small issue to hopefully stop it from becoming a big problem!

Storm damage is a hazard to people, animals, and structures. Proper tree care can prevent or mitigate storm damage like falling limbs or splitting trunks.

It seems that we have been getting our April showers in September this year! North Texas storms are always a mixed blessing and, for those of us in tree service, a good reminder of the needs of our urban forest. Plano, Texas, with its mix of development ages and styles, features a varied mix of trees that require particular attention in this stormy weather.

Profile of a Plano Tree

Trees say a lot about an area. In older Plano neighborhoods, we often see well-established oaks and pecans, some even nearing the end of their life. New communities can have a wider variety of species but can struggle with over-planting or construction stress. In the middle is a varied mix of species and ages. Plano, like many cities, has grown in stages. Earlier developments feature trees that are now coming into maturity, while there are still many recently-planted trees in newer areas. Age and size can greatly affect a tree’s ability to weather a storm, and we can sometimes see a range of damage in a relatively small geographic area. Plano is a city that values its trees and understanding the needs of the different trees is essential to providing effective tree service in Plano.

Storms and Young Trees

Newly-planted trees need particular care and attention to recover from transplantation stress and become established. If the trees are located near to recent construction, there may be other stressors, such as soil compaction or root damage. A stressed tree that has not been able to send out stabilizing roots is at higher risk from flash flooding and high winds. Improperly-planted trees can be uprooted in a strong storm, even with supporting stakes and wires. 

Smaller trees that are planted near or under the canopy of older, larger trees are also at risk of damage from falling branches. While trees have adapted to resist high winds and rain, a large branch from an overhanging tree can fall with enough force to break young limbs and even the trunks of smaller trees. A similar risk is posed by hail or other storm debris. Fortunately, young trees are naturally more flexible, but they must be healthy to have the best chance to survive damage. 

The best way to prepare a young tree to weather a storm is to follow best practices when planting, water regularly, and protect the tree from stress, pests, and diseases. A certified arborist can evaluate the status of your young trees and make recommendations for keeping them healthy, such as a Plant Health Care program of fertilization or pest control.

Storms and Large Trees

As a tree grows, it gains stability from larger roots and increasing layers around its trunk and branches. However, as limb size increases, so does weight and stress on joints.. Periods of drought can cause  cause sudden limb drop, which we saw in Plano in the summer of 2018. Larger trees can also harbor more insects, bacteria, and fungi, some of which can cause limb die-back. Limb joints can become stress points, especially when tree formation allows rot to infiltrate a joint. Issues arising from improper trimming are amplified the larger a tree gets, as even healthy limbs can become unbalance and break in strong winds.

Trees with underlying stability issues are easy targets for storms.

It is a common misconception that the best way to prevent limb breakage is to reduce weight and size by removing as much new growth as possible from older limbs. At the extreme, this can be seen in stripping branches out to the ends, sometimes called a “lion tail” trim. While this does reduce limb weight, it concentrates all the remaining weight to the ends of branches. Furthermore, leaves can actually act as a windbreak and buffer, absorbing the force of high winds and distributing it over a larger area. While it is true that a bare limb has a smaller profile, it also has no shock absorbers, and will simply break when the wind gets too strong. Weight reduction should be performed with care and attention to overall limb resilience and balance.

The longer a tree survives, the more it grows and adapts in response to prevailing weather patterns. Proper tree care consists of helping the tree’s natural defenses. In nature, trees drop dead wood as needed. In a populated environment, we can help the tree get rid of dead wood by removing it safely, before a storm has the chance to. Growth defects or weak joints can be reinforced with cables and bracing and trees should be trimmed to promote balance and not stress weak points in the tree. A certified arborist can examine your tree for signs of stress and disease, and one with a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification is specially trained to asses potential safety issues.

Guidelines for Every Tree

For all trees, there are a few general principles to guide prevention of storm damage:

• Regularly inspect the tree for dead or broken limbs, and remove promptly
• Properly trim trees (no “lion tail” trims) to bolster natural wind resistance
• Reinforce weak joints or splitting areas with bracing or cables
• If a tree is showing signs of stress (yellowing leaves, die-back, insect activity), contact a certified arborist to diagnose and treat any issues
• Be familiar with the type and age of your trees and their particular care needs
• Identify any potential risks posed by falling limbs (structures, landscaping, vehicles, etc.)

Plano: A City of Trees

Every community values its environment. Parks, greenswards, and trees are an essential part of making an urban area a safe, healthy, and inviting place to call home. The city of Plano, with its mix of tree species and ages, is an outstanding example of how a municipality grows with and around its trees. Working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Texas Forest Service, Plano’s Parks and Recreation and Urban Forestry departments provide valuable resources for Plano residents to learn more about tree care.  Nature preserves like Arbor Hills give residents and visitors to Plano a refreshing oasis in the heart of the Metroplex. As Plano continues to grow, its trees will continue to mature and need care. Tree services in Plano can only do so much; it is up to Plano residents and tree owners to remain engaged in the life of the community and the life of its trees.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional tree care in Plano and the surrounding areas. Whether it is storm cleanup, regular tree trimming, disease management, or consultation services, we love our Plano customers and we love their trees. We are always available to come out to your home and inspect your trees and we love to answer tree questions! Contact us online or give us a call, and we’ll see what we can do to help your trees not just survive a storm, but grow and thrive and add beauty and value to Plano and all our North Texas communities.

UPDATE 9/2019 – We see twig girdlers every year, so we thought it’d be a good idea to cover them again! While this post is directed toward Frisco, we are seeing them all over the Metroplex.

Dear Frisco Arborist,
Why are little clumps of leaves falling off my trees and making a mess of my yard?

Texas Tree Surgeons is proud to call North Texas home, and we want to answer questions asked by residents of our communities. Here, a real Frisco Arborist answers a common question this time of year.

As we move out of the heat of Summer and into Fall, many changes can be seen in our North Texas Trees. We begin to see leaves fall from many of our trees. Live oaks, however, generally keep their leaves until the Spring, when they exchange them for new growth. While Frisco, Texas, may not get the dramatic colors of other areas of the country, the variety of trees can still make for an interesting Fall change.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, our Frisco arborists have been getting questions about clumps of twigs and leaves falling from trees of all species. These leaves and twigs are dropping too early for Fall, and can begin to accumulate in yards. Concerned for the health of their trees, homeowners turn to the Frisco tree professionals.

While squirrel damage may account for some of the leaf and twig drops, there is another explanation for a lot of the damage we see: twig girdlers.

What is a twig girdler?

“Twig girdler” is the common name for several longhorn beetles in the genus Oncideres. Twig girdlers can target any tree species. In late Summer and early Fall, the adult twig girdlers appear in preparation for the mating season. Once they have mated, the female beetles begin their preparations for laying eggs.

Female twig girdler beetles feed on the tender shoots and bark of young tree growth and lay their eggs in the small segments at the ends of branches The beetles also remove a notch of bark around the circumference of twigs in which their eggs are laid. The notch around the twig causes it to die, and it falls to the ground with any leaves attached to it. The eggs hatch in a few days and the beetle larvae live in the fallen twig, eating the plant material throughout the winter. In the spring, the young beetles finish their growth and the adults emerge in the summer, ready for the life cycle to begin again.

What can I do about twig girdlers?

For Frisco tree owners, there are a few options for controlling twig girdlers:

• Once the twigs have fallen, gather up and destroy
• Keep monitoring trees during the winter and dispose of any fallen tree material
• Contact a Frisco arborist for Plant Health Care treatment options
  • Often, there is a pesticide application in the Spring to control larvae and one in the Summer or Fall to control the adults

What if it’s something else?

Twig girdlers are not the only cause of unseasonable leaf and twig drop. While Frisco arborists often see twig drop from girdlers, squirrels can also cause similar damage. At Texas Tree Surgeons, we offer a full range of Plant Health Care programs that are tailored to your particular tree and what is affecting it. We are always happy to have one of our certified arborists in Frisco come out and take a look at what is causing your tree to drop twigs.

While we can treat for many of the causes of twig damage, sorry, but we don’t offer a squirrel repellent.

Request an Estimate or give us a call today to discuss what options the Frisco arborists at Texas Tree Surgeons have for you!

Summer in Dallas can seem to last forever and just like we need to keep ourselves hydrated, we need to make sure our urban forest has the water it needs. However, tree watering can be challenging to do correctly. We made this guide to help you make sure you’re not watering too little (or too much!).

Watering your trees might sound unnecessary; isn’t that what their deep roots are for? However, roots only work if there is enough moisture in the ground to absorb. In a city setting, however, that often isn’t the case, and our urban trees are left thirsty in the Dallas heat.

With a large portion of the Southwest United States constantly struggling against drought, consistent and correct watering is key. But what does that mean? Is more better? How often and when? See our top tips below for answers to all of your Dallas tree care and watering questions.

Dallas Tree Care – Tip Top Tree Tips

At Texas Tree Surgeons we know that trees have specific needs, but those needs are often overlooked. If you want your trees to really thrive you need to have the right information. We have put together some important points to keep in mind:

• What time is best for tree watering? This is a great and common question we receive when working with Dallas tree care and watering, and it’s actually easy to remember! Only water with the rule of 8, meaning you can water before 8AM or after 8PM. Simple, right?
• What method is best for tree watering? This can be tricky, as many tree owners think that their sprinklers are enough, but if sprinklers provide the right amount of water for your small flowers and grass, how could it be enough for your trees too? Trees need a greater water source because they are larger. Use a soaker hose or garden hose for best results.
• What can I do to help trees retain moisture? Some people have asked what, in addition to watering, they can do to give their trees the upper hand against the Texas heat, and if there’s one thing Texas Tree Surgeons know how to do, it’s beat the heat. If you want the water you put in the ground to stay in the ground, consider mulching, as this helps trees retain moisture and regulates the evaporation. Check out our recent post on mulching!
• What should I avoid when watering my trees? Texas Tree Surgeons and our Dallas Tree Care Guide recommend never using herbicides on your lawn, or products (like fertilizers) high in nitrogen, as this can open the door to leaf-scald during drought conditions. Ask a certified arborist what soil amendments are right for your trees!
• What is the best way to water my trees? If you are going to use a garden hose to water your trees, make sure you follow these 3 Dallas tree care steps. 1) Place the hose 1-2 feet from the root flare. 2) Let the hose run at a volume that is flowing but not enough to puddle or stream away. 3) Soak the entire area under the canopy of the tree for best results. And of course, always remember to let the ground around your tree’s base completely dry between waterings.

Dallas Tree Care – Omens of Overwatering

Now that Texas Tree Surgeons has given you the Dallas Tree Care Guidelines for how to water your trees, it’s important to go over how NOT to water your trees. After all, too much water can actually drown your trees! See the 3 quickest signs of overwatering below, so you can be in the know.

1. Check the top of the root ball to look for saturation – your foot should not sink below grade.
2. Leaves of an overwatered tree may appear yellow or feel leathery.
3. Leaves of an overwatered tree may be difficult to pull from the tree.

Just like with people, too much of a good thing is no longer good, so make sure you have the right moisture balance for your trees, just like you do for yourself.

Do You Have a Tree in Need of Dallas Tree Care?

We hope our Dallas Tree Care Guide to Tree Watering helped hydrate your knowledge and refresh your outlook on how to best care for your trees. At Texas Tree Surgeons, we truly believe that trees can become an important part of the community, and so it’s important to take care of them. Look here to see just how much of an impact a giant Pecan can have on a town!

If you think one of your trees might be in need of some assistance don’t hesitate to call, as Texas Tree Surgeons are here to help! We love all trees and would love to check yours out and make sure they are healthy, happy and thriving. Give us a call today at 469-387-6000!

UPDATE 9/2019 – As summer drags on, we often get questions about watering for other landscaping, not just trees, and we wanted to add a link to a comprehensive guide to watering and how to get the most out of your efforts. Thanks to Gary Ashton from Nashville, Tennessee, for the post!

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, and we want to give you all the tools and information you need to keep your plants healthy during our sweltering summers! As always, if you have any questions about proper tree watering, tree health care, or anything else about your trees, let us know!