Archives 2021

Will My Trees Survive Freezing Temps and Winter Weather?

by Texas Tree Surgeons Extreme Weather, Resources

The effects of the historic freezing temperatures in February 2021 are widespread. After the ice thawed and the snow melted, many people were left with frost-damaged or dead landscaping. While much of the damage from the rapidly-changing temperatures is obvious, trees and plants have also suffered internal damage, and will likely show signs for years to come.

Will the freezing temperatures and winter weather kill my trees?

Unfortunately, we can already see the signs of frost-killed plants: leaves and other plant tissue that appears wet, soft, brown/black, or dried up. This type of damage is prevalent in succulents, pittosporum, loropetalum, geraniums, and related plants. Palms will likely also suffer extensive frost damage, but it is best to wait until the summer to see if they put out new growth. 

Evergreens and more frost-resistant trees and shrubs should fare better. Common examples of this group of plants are yaupon hollies, wax myrtles, and crape myrtles. These species may brown in sections, but ultimately survive. Even if they survive, some of the brown sections will never recover. It is best to wait until summer for new growth to see the extent of the damage. 

Trees with thinner bark, such as fruit trees and Japanese maples, may leaf out in the spring and appear unharmed. Damage to the inner layers of the tree, however, can prevent proper movement of water and nutrients in the tree’s vascular system and can lead to stress symptoms in the summer, appearing as a sudden browning and wilting of the leaves. 

Larger native trees such as red oak and pecan may show dieback or brown sections, but should recover if cared for properly. Live oaks may show browning, but should recover and put out new leaves in spring.

Frost Cracks

Frost cracks are caused not by surface frost, but by fluctuating temperatures, and are most-often seen on the southern sides of trees, which get more direct sunlight. On a cold but sunny day, the sun warms the exposed areas of the tree, causing expansion. When temperatures drop rapidly at night, the bark cools and shrinks faster than the tissue underneath. As the bark shrinks, it splits vertically over areas where the underlying wood is still expanded. Splitting and cracking is most common in areas where there are wounds or other damage that has weakened the bark. Young trees and trees with thin bark are especially susceptible. Frost cracks are rarely fatal and will heal over time, but can be entryways for disease and insects. Stressed trees exhibiting cracks should be given special attention and should be properly fertilized and cared-for to help protect against diseases and insect activity.

CAN I DO ANYTHING TO HELP MY TREES RECOVER FROM THE FREEZING WEATHER?

 For freeze-damaged plants, it is important to provide proper care in the short and long term. 

 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW: WAIT!

  • Watch for signs of damage.
    • Browning and widespread leaf drop will be common.
    • Wait until spring or summer before deciding if a plant is salvageable.
  • Water correctly.
    • Once the ground has thawed out, and temperatures are consistently above freezing, do a deep soak watering for the roots of trees.
      • Use a hose, not sprinklers.
    • Watering can help a tree with damaged leaves to take up nutrients. 

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IN THE SPRING

  • Have frost-damaged trees evaluated by an local ISA Certified Arborist.
    • Every tree species will react differently to the freeze.
    • Factors like location, soil conditions, and even the movement of the storm front will affect the trees’ ability to survive.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS

  • Fertilization and proper watering will be key to freeze-damaged trees.
    • Nutrient-rich soil with beneficial bacteria and fungi can speed a tree’s recovery.
  • Do not use herbicides around affected plants.
    • Never use a “weed and feed” product near your trees.
  • Continue proper maintenance trimming and care.
    • Remove dead wood and loose bark, thin for light and air.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! The freezing weather in February 2021 caused damage not just to North Texas’s infrastructure, leaving many without power, water, and shelter, but also to our urban forest. Once the needs of our residents have been met, it’s a good time to think about how best to care for our frost-damaged trees and shrubs. We are here to help you evaluate the damage to your landscaping and make an informed decision about how to proceed. If your trees and shrubs don’t leaf out in the spring, or you have any other questions, let us know! We have a team of ISA Certified Arborists ready to help in any way we can!

Texas Tree Surgeons is Proud to be Woman-Owned!

by Texas Tree Surgeons Events
In January 2021, Texas Tree Surgeons was certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). This recognition, along with our certification as an Historically Underutilized Business by the State of Texas, is not just another certificate we can hang on our wall, but is an external sign of what is key to our life as a company — that we are woman-owned and women-managed. Those of you who have worked with Texas Tree Surgeons in the past, especially our long-time customers, will not be surprised to learn that Texas Tree Surgeons is woman-owned and operated. Newer customers, however, may not be aware that we pride ourselves on having female leadership, something that distinguishes us from many other companies in the tree care industry.

Woman-Owned Since 2010

Our owner, Amy Langbein Heath, began at Texas Tree Surgeons (then called Dallas Tree Surgeons) as an arborist. After just a few years, however, she was overseeing the operations of the company, as the then-owner had moved away. In 2010, Amy purchased Texas Tree Surgeons, and we became 100% woman-owned. Since taking over, Amy has expanded every aspect of the company, increasing the number of ISA Certified Arborists from two to seven, diversifying services to include year-round plant health care programs, and moving from a home office to a three-acre facility in Garland, Texas. In 2019, Amy became the first woman in Texas to attain the ISA Board Certified Master Arborist credential, the pinnacle of the tree service profession. Amy’s passion for tree care and love for her community have led to her election to the Trinity Blacklands Urban Forestry Council and the International Society of Arboriculture Texas Chapter Board of Directors. Her commitment to excellence in her industry and her unfailing support of her Texas Tree Surgeons family has created a corporate culture of trust, personal attention, and work-life balance that is unparalleled. Amy’s motto for Texas Tree Surgeons has always been “We Love Trees,” but her employees, customers, and community know that Amy’s compassion extends much further than that.

Amy was a guest on the Common Threads podcast on January 21, 2021. Check out her interview for more on her story and her business philosophy!

A Culture of Female Leadership

As part of her vision for Texas Tree Surgeons, Amy has cultivated an environment that encourages personal growth, rewards continuing education, and emphasizes individual success. In this mission, Amy has been supported since day one by Jade Nowell, our operations manager. Jade joined Texas Tree Surgeons in 2007 and soon began the hands-on management of the day-to-day operations of the company. In the early days, Jade spoke to every customer on the phone and dispatched arborists and crews with hand-written schedules. As we have expanded, technology has streamlined much of the scheduling process and new co-workers have assumed some responsibilities, but Jade is still the organizational nerve center of Texas Tree Surgeons. Whether it is customer communication, crew management, or arborist support, Jade keeps the company’s operations functioning and ensures that every customer receives exceptional service and every team member is able to succeed.

Joining Amy and Jade in caring for your trees is Hannah Edinburgh, Texas Tree Surgeons’ managing arborist and the second woman in Texas to become an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (after Amy!). In addition to providing excellent customer service, Hannah helps coordinate arborist services and pricing, advises on our plant health care and tree service protocols and programs, and is passionate about continuing education. She recently completed the American Society of Consulting Arborists’ Consulting Academy and is in the process of becoming a Registered Consulting Arborist.

In addition to our female leadership, we are proud to hire female arborists, plant health care technicians, and office staff! Lindsey Brammer is our longest-tenured ISA Certified Arborist and has a loyal customer base that relies on her knowledge and is enriched by her outgoing personality. Andrea Davies started as a receptionist, but has become an expert on the behind-the-scenes organization of our plant health care programs. Emily Long has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 2015 and is not only only outstanding at sales, but is able to develop a personal connection with her clients. Joy Kinney also started in the office, but moved into a field position and is now one of our highly-skilled plant health care application technicians. Sarah Garcia is the newest member of our team, and has proven to be invaluable in managing customer communication, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We value all the members of our Texas Tree Surgeons family, but we are especially thankful for all the strong, intelligent women who want to find a career in a field traditionally dominated by men.

Outside of the Texas Tree Surgeons, Amy strives to support women interested in arboriculture and related fields, as well as organizations that highlight the important role of women in not only the tree care industry, but all areas of business. If you know a woman who is interested in what an arborist does, or what careers are available in tree care, let Amy know! She is always happy to pass on the knowledge she has gained over the past decade.