Archives 2020

Another installment in our series of posts where Texas Tree Surgeons answers your tree questions. Are you having problems with your trees and want to know what’s wrong? Let us know!

My cedar tree has bagworms. Can you treat for that?

Bagworms are a common pest in North Texas, especially on cedars, junipers, cypresses, and other evergreens, although they can attack broad-leaf trees (like oaks, maples, and elms) as well. While they are common, they may not always be noticeable, especially on evergreens, as they use material from the trees they infest to camouflage their casings. Like other insects, bagworms have a year-long life cycle, and control measures depend on the growth stage of the pest.

What Are Bagworms?

• Bagworm is the common name for several different species of insect which are actually a type of moth (order Lepidoptera, family Psychidae).
• The bagworm caterpillars are very small (about 1/25 of an inch long), and spin silk thread which they use to attach themselves to plants and to weave into their bags.
  • Unlike a typical cocoon, the bagworm’s casing functions as a moveable shelter, with the caterpillars exiting to find food and climb up the plant.
• Once the caterpillar has matured, it undergoes a metamorphosis period before emerging as an adult.
  • Male bagworms resemble small moths while the females are flightless.
• Male bagworm moths seek out females during mating season, and the female uses her bag to lay eggs.
  • The exact times of caterpillar and adult emergence varies from species to species and is dependent upon the weather.

Can You Treat For Bagworms?

While bagworms are not prevalent every year, once they have infested a tree, they will continue to live there unless controlled.

• The simplest control method is to remove the bags.
  • They can be pulled off by hand or sprayed off with high-powered water.
  • It it important to dispose of the bags or destroy them, and not just leave them lying on the ground, as the eggs they contain can hatch and re-infest the tree.
• Insecticide sprays can be used to control bagworms, but are most effective when the caterpillars are small, and can be completely ineffective if the bagworms close their bags, as they do to molt or over the winter.
  • Systemic insecticides may be used in some cases as a preventative measure. Consult a certified arborist to see if this may be a good option for you.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers! Bagworms are a widespread nuisance and, while one or two may not harm a mature tree, can cause large-scale defoliation if left unchecked. It is a good idea to remove any bags that you see, whenever you see them. If you have bagworms, and want to see if there might be a chemical treatment option, contact us to set up a visit from a certified arborist. We offer full-service plant health care, including fertilization to help trees stressed by bagworms recover. We look forward to hearing from you!

Another installment in our series of posts where Texas Tree Surgeons answers your tree questions. Are you having problems with your trees and want to know what’s wrong? Let us know!

The leaves on our oak trees are looking diseased, with bumps all over them. Is this oak wilt?

Oaks are the most common trees in our North Texas urban forest, and they can suffer from many different health issues. If your oak is showing misshapen leaves with bright green bulges on them, it is most likely a fungal disease that may look bad, but is not usually harmful to the overall health of the tree.

Oak Leaf Blister 

• Oak leaf blister is caused by the fungus Taphrina caerulescens, which enters the new leaf buds during cool and moist spring weather.
• The fungus causes the young leaves to develop blister-like bumps on their surfaces, with coloration ranging from light green to brown.
  • In more severe cases, the leaves may fall off altogether.
  • The fungus does not affect mature leaves, only new growth.
• Like other fungal diseases, oak leaf blister is more prevalent during periods of cooler weather with increased rainfall in the spring, and cannot survive the summer heat.

Does Oak Leaf Blister Kill the Tree?

Oak leaf blister and the T. caerulescens fungus do not pose a serious risk to the health of affected trees.

Can Oak Leaf Blister Be Treated?

• The spores which carry the oak leaf blister fungus are present on the bud sites over the winter, and once the tree begins showing infected leaves, chemical treatment is not effective.
  • It is possible to apply a preventative fungicide, but this must be done before bud break and while the young leaves are maturing.
• If you have a tree with oak leaf blister, the best course of action is to clean up fallen infected leaves and dispose of them in plastic bags.
  • Do not place leaves in compost, as this may encourage further fungal growth.
• Keeping a tree healthy with proper mulching and fertilization, as well as maintaining soil drainage, will help it resist future health issues.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers! While oak leaf blister can be unsightly, it is mostly harmless and is not a serious concern to the health of the tree. Of course, there are many oak health issues that can cause long-term damage and tree death. Oak wilt is a major concern. Trimming oaks should be avoided between February and July if possible, and proper precautions taken if trimming cannot be postponed. Oak decline is also a problem, especially in areas where many of the trees were planted around the same time, and are reaching the end of their lifespan. If you have any questions about the health of your oaks, or any other tree care issues, let us know!

We had a bumper crop of acorns recently. While this is good for squirrels, it also presents a great opportunity for a fun project that can be educational and help our urban forest! Growing your own oak from an acorn and planting it where it is needed is a great, easy way to combat the severe tree loss and damage we had in 2019.

Step Two: Prepare Your Acorn for Planting

While you can plant the acorn right away, taking an extra step can lead to greater success down the road and is a more exciting way to see the early growth stages. 

• Take a viable acorn and carefully insert three toothpicks, equally-spaced around the circumference, about half way between the top and bottom of the acorn.
• Set the acorn on the top of a small cup, glass, or jar (clear is best!), balancing the toothpick on the rim.
• Fill the container with water, so that the bottom half of the acorn is submerged.
• Put the acorn and container in a warm, sunny spot (a windowsill works great).
• As the acorn germinates, it will begin sending a large taproot down into the container.
• If you have a clear jar or cup, you can see its progress.
• After the root has grown, the acorn will begin to send up a green shoot from the top.
• PRO TIP: Given enough time, the shoot will put out a few familiarly-shaped leaves!

Acorns can also be germinated in bulk in a bag filled with moist potting soil. Keeping the bag in the refrigerator can help prevent mold growth. Once they have put out roots, they are ready to plant.

Step Four: Plant Your Tree Outside!

Once the oak seedling has become established, you can plant it outside to give it room to grow! It is best to plant a new tree in the fall or winter.

• Find a spot where there will plenty of room for the tree to spread its roots and canopy.
• Dig a hole about the same size as the container the seedling was in.
  • Unlike planting a larger tree, there should be no root issues requiring a larger hole.
• Remove the entire contents of the container and place in the hole.
  • PRO TIP: If you let the soil dry out a little bit, it should pull back from the sides of the container and slide out easily.
  • Make sure that the top of the container soil is at ground level; don’t plant it too deep.
• With the leftover soil from digging the hole, you can make a small ring around the tree, about a foot away from the stem.
  • You can also put down a some mulch, but make sure not to put any too close to the seedling’s stem.
• Placing a flag nearby will help you remember where the seedling is and keep it from possibly getting mowed down.
• If you are worried about animal activity or other damage, you can use a tomato cage or similar fence to protect your seedling as it grows.
  • Once it has grown about 18 inches tall, you can remove the cage.
• Be sure to keep the growing young tree watered and monitor it for signs of insect activity.
  • If you have questions about fertilizer or other care, ask a certified arborist.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers! Growing your own seedling from an acorn is a fun way to learn about trees and is a great way to get free trees for your yard. With a little prep and a little patience, you can soon have your own forest! Also, you can use a similar process to grow other acorn- or nut-producing trees, although oaks (especially red oaks) are often the quickest and easiest to start with. As always, if you have any questions about how to care for your trees, young or old, let us know!

Leaf and Bark Rubbing

What you need:

• Leaves
• Bark
• Paper
• Crayons or colored pencils

1. Lay the paper over the leaves, and rub gently with the crayon or colored pencil. The pattern of the leaf will be transferred to the paper!

You can also take bark rubbings from trees, or from pieces of bark that you find on the ground.

Use the leaf and bark patterns as components in a drawing, or use the designs to decorate signs, cards, or paper airplanes!

Make a Simple Tent

What you need:

• Trees
• Rope or Clothesline
• Sheet or Tarp
• Stones

For a fun outdoor hideaway, you can use simple materials to make an easy to put up and take down tent!

If you have two trees, or a tree and a nearby structure:

1. Tie a rope between them
2. Put the sheet or tarp over the middle of the rope so that it reaches the ground on both sides
3. Weigh down the corners of the sheet with stones or pieces of wood.
4. Enjoy your cozy outdoor hideout!

PRO TIP: Decorate the sheet with painted leaves or leaf rubbings, and display your spirit stick!

Tree Scavenger Hunt

What you need:

• Scavenger Hunt List (see below)
• Paper bag or basket

With a little prep work, you can have a fun outdoor scavenger hunt!

1. Make up a list of tree-related itemsHere’s our arborist-approved suggestions:
   • Acorn
   • Green Leaf
   • Brown Leaf
   • Flower
   • Twig
   • Branch
   • Catkin
   • Pecan
   • Bark
     PRO TIP: If you have unique trees in your yard, you can add items (like magnolia seed pods or horse apples) to personalize your list
2. Print out your list or write it on the paper bag
3. See how many of the items you can find!
4. Draw a picture of each item you found next to its name on the list!

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our families! During uncertain or difficult times, it is more important than ever to recharge with fresh air and nature. Fun outdoor activities can help break up the boredom and monotony of being stuck at home, and can help kids (and parents, too!) learn about the environment around them. If you enjoy any of our suggestions, let us know by posting your photos and tagging us! And as always, if you have any questions about your trees, get in touch!

Another installment in our series of posts where Texas Tree Surgeons answers your tree questions. Are you having problems with your trees and want to know what’s wrong? Let us know!

Why is it that my peach trees get loaded with peaches every year, but the peaches only get so big (about the size of a golf ball) and stay that way till they fall off? Can I do anything to help them grow better?

Growing fruit trees in North Texas can be a tricky undertaking. While we don’t have the well-suited conditions of other regions, there are some steps that fruit tree owners can take to help their trees produce the best fruit.

For fruit production, pruning is key

If you have a stone fruit (peach, plum, etc.) tree that is already established and producing fruit, proper pruning can be a big help in managing fruit production.

• Fruit trees naturally produce more fruit than can be sustained, and need a helping hand.
• One way to help fruit mature fully is to remove a portion of the fruits after they begin to grow.
  • For best results, remove the fruit by hand about four weeks after blooming.
  • Leave only one fruit every six to eight inches along a branch.
• As the fruit matures, it is important to manage pests and diseases that can prevent proper growth.
  • Remove any dead or diseased wood or fruit as soon as it appears.
  • Consider fertilizer or pesticide application, and consult a certified arborist for good product recommendations.

Planning ahead for best fruit

Of course, some types of fruit trees are better-suited to our North Texas climate and soil.

• If you are looking to plant a peach tree, or another type of stone fruit, consult this guide from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension program.
• Once you have picked a tree, be sure to plant during the winter dormant season and to prepare the planting site properly.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers! There may not be many fruit trees in North Texas, but we love helping our community take care of what we have. We are always happy to offer suggestions and guidance in the tree selection and planting process. We offer comprehensive plant health care programs to help control diseases and pests, including organic options. If you have any questions about your fruit trees or any other trees, let us know!