Archives 2022

The recent explosion of aphid activity in North Texas caused frustration and concern among tree owners and anyone who has encountered the sticky mess that aphids cause. When aphids have matured and are feeding (and producing honeydew), best practice guidelines do not recommend using chemical controls. Introducing natural aphid predators can help reduce the population, but the best course of action, especially with a fall aphid infestation, is simply to wait about a month for the aphids to die off and cooler weather to prevent another generation from maturing.

Are There Any Natural Ways to Get Rid of Aphids?

Chemical pesticides are not the only way to control aphids. One of the most effective and long-lasting ways of reducing aphid activity is to introduce natural predators of the aphid into the environment. With an autumn infestation, however, there is limited time to act and leaves may drop and temperatures fall before any aphid control has a chance to make a difference.

While lady beetles are a welcome addition to the garden, some non-native species can invade our homes during winter. These lady beetles often have an “M” or “W” mark on their shells, just behind the head. To keep your home lady beetle-free:

• Keep trees and bushes trimmed back from structures
• Avoid stacking firewood next to the house
• Seal up cracks around windows
• Use wire mesh to screen large vents

Taking a few precautions will not only keep lady beetles out of your house, but block larger and harmful pests as well!

Lacewings

• Two major varieties: green lacewings and brown lacewings, in order Neuroptera
  • Lay distinctive single eggs on stalks
• Larvae often called “aphid lions”
  • Can consume up to 200 aphids a week
  • Adults can feed on aphids as well
• Take about two to three weeks to hatch and mature from eggs

There are species of lady beetle and lacewing that are active in the spring and in the fall, so there is a potential for year-round aphid control. Introducing lady beetle larvae can have a serious effect on aphid activity, but keep in mind that, depending on the species, the predators may not survive winter and may need to be re-introduced in the spring.

In addition to predators, simple physical controls, such as using water to remove aphids from plants, can also help in the short term. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers as these can stimulate rapid growth and attract more aphids. Luckily, with fall aphids, once the leaves drop and their food source is removed, the pests will die off quickly.

Why aren’t Chemical Controls Effective for Fall Aphids?

There are several chemical insecticides that target aphids. These products generally break down into two categories: systemic and non-systemic.

• Systemic Pesticides
  • Absorbed into the the plant they are applied to and transported throughout the plant’s structure
    • Can take up to a month for chemical to become present throughout mature trees and reach full effectiveness
  • Generally effective for longer than non-systemic
    • Resistant to being diluted or washed away by rain
  • While present in plant, can protect both new and old growth
  • Can be applied before growing season or anticipated increase in pest activity
• Non-Systemic Pesticides
  • Cling to the surface of treated plants
    • Effective immediately
  • At risk of dilution or removal by rain, sprinklers, etc.
  • May not protect growth after application
  • Can be applied preventatively, but timing more important due to risk of dilution/loss
  • Difficult or impossible to apply to large trees/plants
    • Large-scale spraying may lead to environmental contamination

Comprehensive pest management often uses both systemic and non-systemic chemicals to provide maximum protection. Before a growing season, in late winter for example, it is common to apply a surface spray and a systemic insecticide to crape myrtles and other trees that are susceptible to insect infestations in the spring. The surface spray provides protection while the systemic product has time to come to full effectiveness.

In the case of insect activity in fall, chemical controls should not be applied as they would be before a growing season. Non-systemic pesticide sprays can be effective against current pest activity, but in the case of large, mature trees, such as the pecans and oaks infested with aphids in the fall of 2022, applying sufficient quantities of external pest control is not only expensive, but is potentially hazardous to the surrounding environment with the high potential for overspray and excess application. Furthermore, as fall in North Texas often brings rain, any product applied may be washed away quickly, and possibly end up in the groundwater.

Systemic insecticides carry a much lower risk of environmental contamination, but take about a month to become effective. In the case of a fall application, systemic controls may take even longer, as trees begin going dormant and dropping leaves, slowing the uptake of both nutrients and chemicals. In general, it is not recommended to use any systemic insecticides in the fall, as the likelihood of their becoming effective before the pests naturally die off is low.

In summary, be wary of service providers who claim that they can control fall aphids chemically; they may be able to reduce activity, but full eradication is nearly impossible and runs a high risk of contamination and waste of chemicals, time, and money.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! These fall aphids have been a real nuisance, and we want to give our customers the best advice so that money and time is not wasted on ineffective treatments. While we don’t recommend chemical application for fall aphids, we are big fans of introducing some aphid predators while you still have time! As a woman-owned and women-led company, we are partial to lady beetles :-), but lacewings are great, too! Share this article and spread the word about aphids, and let us know if you have any other tree questions!

We have discussed the relationship between aphids and the sticky residue seen on patios and cars before, but the Fall of 2022 has seen an explosion in aphid populations and the resulting mess. While there is little that can be done to reduce aphid activity this season, it is unlikely that the aphid infestations will have a lasting negative effect on trees in North Texas.

Why Is My Tree Dripping Sticky Stuff? Is It Sap?

While it may be confused with sap, the sticky substance we are seeing dripping from trees is most likely honeydew, which is produced by aphids. Aphids are attracted to many different species of tree, but are most commonly seen in North Texas on crape myrtles, pecans, hackberries, and certain oaks.

• The aphids feed on sap and produce honeydew, which accumulates on the trees, eventually dropping.
  • Since honeydew is essentially sugar water, it can cause surfaces it comes in contact with to become sticky.
  • The sugary residue can also attract ants and other animals.
  • In large enough accumulations, honeydew can lead to the growth of molds and fungi, such as sooty mold, which is commonly seen on aphid-infested crape myrtles.

Why Is This Happening Now?

Like the trees they prey on, aphids are greatly affected by seasonal weather patterns and changes to their environment. In 2022, we had a long, dry summer that ended with heavy rainfall. The abundance of moisture at the end of the season combined with still-elevated temperatures caused rapid growth of many plants, blooming of flowering trees and bushes, and a resurgence in the insect population. The abundance of new growth late in the year was able to support many more species that feed on plants, like aphids, than the previous year’s late summer. While this is not the first time this has happened in North Texas (see our post about this same topic from October 2018), it happens rarely enough that it can be surprising when it occurs.

Is There a Spray or Other Treatment for Aphids?

• Foliar sprays to control insects are not recommended for large trees (such as pecans and oaks), and have a very limited window of effectiveness.
  • Additionally, any product that is applied to a tree rather than used systemically is subject to being diluted or washed away entirely by rain.
• Systemic insecticides can be used in trees of all sizes, but take about a month from application to be taken up by the tree’s vascular tissue and reach full effectiveness.
  • Because of this timing, systemic insecticides are best applied before a growing season or an expected surge in insect activity.
• Be wary of service providers who claim to be able to control an active aphid infestation quickly.
  • They will either not be able to deliver on that promise, or will use a wasteful, excessive, and potentially dangerous insecticide spray that could be rendered ineffective in the next rainstorm.
• Effective treatment takes time, and if the aphids are already active, they will most likely die off naturally before any chemical controls could make a difference.

What Can We Do About the Current Activity and Sticky Mess?

• Depending on the size of the host tree and the number of aphids present, it may be possible to spray some of them off the tree with a garden hose.
  • Ladybird beetles (laybugs) and some other insects are natural predators of the aphids, but trying to introduce them into the environment late in the season may not be effective.
• The sticky honeydew is water-soluble and easily cleaned up with a mild detergent solution or a mixture of vinegar and water.
  • If possible, avoid parking under infested trees and cover patio furniture until the activity dies down.
• Once their life cycle has run its course, the aphids will die off naturally.
  • With a lifespan of between 20 and 40 days, by the time the current generation of aphids dies, the weather will have cooled enough to prevent further activity until the next growing season.
• To help prevent future infestations, and stop current ones from getting worse, avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizer that stimulates rapid plant growth, as this will only serve to make your trees more attractive to pests like aphids.

Will the Aphids Cause Long-Term Issues in My Trees?

While an active aphid infestation can cause irritating honeydew production and unsightly mold growth, there are most likely no lasting effects on large trees. Increased insect activity late in a season is less likely to cause long-term damage. Additionally, even large populations of aphids rarely have any serious effect on mature trees. Once the aphids die off, any secondary issues, such as mold, will clear up.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! We hope that spreading the word about the current aphid issue will help put tree owners’ minds at ease. While nothing can be done to reduce aphid activity right now, there are preventative measures that can be taken in the winter to help reduce pests in the spring. We offer year-round plant health care programs that can help make sure your trees are prepared to handle issues at any time and bounce back from damage and stress. Ask one of our certified arborists to evaluate your trees today!

In the spring and fall, we often get calls about small, green worms or caterpillars hanging on web-like threads from trees and structures. While they may be off-putting, and can be rampant some years, they should not be a cause of serious concern.

So, What are They?

While there are many similar-looking small caterpillars and worms, the variety most commonly seen in North Texas is the cankerworm. These inchworm-like caterpillars are the larvae of moths, usually the hackberry leafroller moth (Sciota celtidella). While the leafroller caterpillars usually emerge in the spring, depending on the weather they can also be active in the fall. The caterpillars spin thin strands of web-like filament that they use to move from tree to tree and to aid in feeding.

All About Hackberries

Hackberry trees are a common sight in DFW, and have even lent their name to several areas and neighborhoods! What we call hackberries may be of a few distinct tree species, but are all in the genus Celtis. Hackberries are fast-growing softwood trees that can often be found as volunteers along fences and hedgerows, grown from seeds dropped by birds and other animals that feed on the trees’ berries. Because of their fast growth and structure, and because they are often overlooked, hackberries can be prone to limb and trunk instabilities. One particular danger is root rot caused by the Kretschmaria deusta fungus.

Should I Do Anything?

Unfortunately, once the caterpillars emerge and begin feeding there are no effective insecticidal treatments. Using a water hose or other method to remove caterpillars from trees and structures can help some, but it is important to make sure that the removed caterpillars are disposed of so that they don’t simply re-infest the tree. Proper maintenance, especially of stressed trees, is usually all that is needed to ensure a hackberry recover from leaf rollers. Water correctly and avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, opting instead for organic soil amendments to improve the tree’s microenvironment. As the population of leafroller caterpillars varies from year to year depending on environmental and other factors, preventative treatment is usually not recommended, due to low success rate and risk of over-usage of insecticidal chemicals.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! While it’s always a little startling to see unseasonal leaf drop, losing leaves doesn’t necessarily mean a tree is doomed! We are always happy to have one of our ISA Certified Arborists out to look at your hackberries (or any other trees) and let you know if what you are seeing needs to be addressed. Get in touch today!

Just as with extreme winter weather, intense summer heat and lack of rainfall can create stressful and dangerous situations for trees. The drought conditions we endured for the summer of 2022 dried out area lakes and rivers and dramatically reduced the available moisture in the soil.

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, over 3 million trees died as a result of the widespread drought of 2011. While some of the data shows that the 2022 drought was less severe than 2011, many areas of the state have actually had less rainfall and more 100-degree days than in the comparable period 11 years ago. Additionally, many trees affected in the 2022 drought were still suffering the effects of the freezing weather in 2021.

How Does Drought Affect Trees?

The effects of drought cannot be overstated.

• In addition to potentially facing long periods and high temperatures, trees in drought areas:

  • Can lose their ability to take up nutrients from the soil

    • When ground temperatures rise as high as they did this summer, the soil dries out and the fine, nutrient-absorbing roots of a tree found close to the surface die.

  • Have to rely on limited energy stores instead of outside nutrition

    • This leaves energy stores depleted, leading to further decline after their dormant season.

  • Are unable to immediately take up much-needed moisture once it returns

    • Moisture-absorbing riot structures take time to regrow in dehydrated soil.

  • Find their microenvironment greatly altered

    • Beneficial microorganisms, just like fine tree roots, cannot live in dried out, hard ground.

What Can You Do to Help Your Trees Right Now?

• WATER, WATER, WATER

  • Even though we have had some rain recently, it is not enough to help trees come back from extended drought. Proper watering now will make a big difference!

• Apply appropriate soil amendments and compost/natural fertilizers

  • Nutrient-rich material, such as compost or soil amendments, bring much-needed micronutrients to bolster soil revitalization.

  • As a response to the drought stress, Texas Tree Surgeons will be using a nutrient-rich fertilizer mix that contains beneficial rhizosphere bacteria, seaweed and yucca extracts, urea and humic acids, as well as fish meal, kelp meal, worm tea, and sea water extracts for fall 2022 applications. This blend of natural micronutrient sources will benefit not only the trees, but the soil ecosystem, and allow beneficial microorganisms to thrive.

• Use mulch in the trees’ root zones to help regulate soil temperature and moisture content

  • Proper mulching leads to better soil, as the mulch decomposes into nutritious organic matter.

• For stressed trees, only remove dead or broken areas and do light maintenance trimming

  • Wait until the trees have had another growing season before considering major work.

  • Drought can lead to more dry and dead limbs; be sure to remove those before they come down in fall and winter storms.

• If you need to replace trees or other landscaping that didn’t make it, fall and winter are the best times to plant

  • Use native species to ensure hardiness against future droughts.

  • Need some ideas? Check out our list of great ornamentals, as well as information about native grasses from our friends at Native Gardeners.

What Should Be Avoided After a Drought?

• ABSOLUTELY DO NOT USE HIGH-NITROGEN FERTILIZER OR “WEED AND FEED” PRODUCTS!

  • Using a high-nitrogen fertilizer can stimulate fast and unsustainable growth that is a waste of the already-taxed energy stores of stressed trees.

  • “Weed and feed” products are formulated to kill woody-stemmed plants (like trees!). Using these chemicals adds a further stressor to the tree’s environment.

• Do not install new sod or artificial turf

  • Putting sod or synthetic turf around a stressed tree will prevent the regrowth of the tree’s fine root systems.

• Do not rely on sprinkler systems or lawn irrigation to water your trees

  • Trees’ water requirements are vastly different from turf grass. Make sure you are watering correctly.

• Do not over- or improperly trim your trees

  • Lion tailing, topping, and removing large sections of canopy are always a bad idea, but improper trimming can lead to a stressed tree dying completely.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! We hope your trees made it through the summer of 2022, but even trees that seem unaffected need particular attention and care in the coming months and years. Proper watering is key, but drought-stressed trees and soil need additional help this fall and in the seasons to come. Our ISA Certified Arborists can assess your trees’ needs and recommend a well-tailored plan of soil amendments and healthy trimming to make your trees thrive all year long. Get in touch today!

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we pride ourselves on providing the best in tree care and customer service. While we have grown considerably since Amy Langbein Heath took over in 2011, we strive to maintain the small business feel that our long-time customers have come to expect from our arborists, crews, and office staff.

In July 2022, we were happy to bring on Kay Chupik and her company Chupik Tree Service to continue to bring superior tree care to East Dallas and beyond.

Chupik Tree Service was started in 1987 by Stanley Chupik. Stan and Kay ran Chupik Tree Service as a family business and became well known in the Lakewood area of Dallas for providing top-quality tree trimming with a hands-on and personal approach. Following Stan’s passing in 2017, Kay continued to run Chupik Tree Service herself, not just providing estimates but also helping out on the tree crews!

In early 2022, through mutual friends at the Eagle Postal Center in Lakewood, Kay reached out to Amy to discuss some issues she was having in keeping up with the demands of running her small tree company. Ultimately, Amy and Kay decided that customers would be best served by Chupik Tree Services becoming part of Texas Tree Surgeons. This way, the relationships Kay had fostered in the community could continue to receive her personal attention, while Texas Tree Surgeons could provide Kay’s customers with the quality of tree service they had come to expect.

In recognition of the history and expertise that Kay brings to our Texas Tree Surgeon family, she will continue to give estimates and tend to the tree work needs of her long-time clients under the name “TTS Chupik Tree Service.” We are happy to debut a new version of our logo for the services Kay offers, one which combines our strong TTS branding with the familiar Chupik name.

As Texas Tree Surgeons and Chupik Tree Service move into this new era, we are excited to see how we can continue to grow in our commitment to loving trees and loving our community.

Want to reach out to Kay Chupik or any of our arborists? Send us a message!

One of the perennial questions our arborists hear from customers is how to get more grass to grow under their trees. Whether it is from canopy shade or root growth, there seems to be a constant struggle between grass and trees. Unfortunately, most turf grass is not bred to live in harmony with large trees, and trees often find themselves in competition for resources with surrounding grass. In many cases, homeowners have to choose between uniform turf coverage and tree health.

Why Does Grass Not Grow Under Trees?

Simply put, turf grass and trees do not come from the same natural environment.

Turf grass is bred and grown to thrive in bright sun with regular watering. The root systems of sod grasses form heavy thatch that captures moisture and nutrients and reduces competition from weeds and other plants in the same area. Turf needs relatively shallow soil, as its roots are close to the surface.

Trees, on the other hand, are most at home in a forest environment. Rather than being surrounded by grass, trees in a forest cover the ground around themselves with dropped leaves or needles (yes, evergreens have a “leaf exchange” too!). This “leaf litter” acts as natural mulch and breaks down into compost, creating layers of rich soil providing both nutrients and stability to trees. This natural mulch and compost also prevents the growth of potentially-competing plants. Additionally, while the trees’ canopies need bright sun, the root zone is kept shaded, both to aid in the breakdown of the leaf litter and help prevent other plants from growing.

Turf Grass And Trees Do Not Get Along

In an urban environment, turf grass and trees are artificially united in a single ecosystem. The trees’ natural growth process and self-mulching is often altered, as leaf litter is removed by homeowners. As turf grass tries to expand into a tree’s root zone, it encounters shade and surface roots, both of which are not conducive to growth. Where trees and turf grass coexist, they often compete for resources, especially water. Lawn sprinklers and irrigation systems provide enough water for grass, but are not able to properly water trees. Synthetic fertilizers for turf grass (especially “weed and feed” products) can actually be harmful to trees.

Luckily, there are alternatives to this unhealthy cycle of competition!

What Can I Do About Grass Not Growing Under My Trees?

In an ideal world, all trees would be able to live in their preferred environment: surrounded by a large area of mulch and compost, properly irrigated, and not in competition with other plants for resources. Proper mulching around your trees will not only help the trees grow, but the mulch will regulate soil moisture and temperature, making trees more resistant to temperature shifts or periods of drought. While it may be hard to imagine a yard without grass, proper mulching around your trees and reducing the amount of turf grass brings a natural beauty and can save on water usage dramatically.

If you still want some color under your trees, rather than the natural soil, there are some ground cover options that can brighten up your yard without causing undue competition with your trees. Native grasses and groundcover that have evolved or been bred to complement the needs of trees are a great choice to reduce water usage, add beneficial nutrients to the soil, and attract native pollinators. For more information, and some specific recommendations, check out this post from our friends at Native Gardeners.

Can’t I Just Trim My Tree So That Grass Will Grow?

While it is possible to trim a tree’s canopy to increase the amount of light that reaches the ground below, and trees need a certain amount of thinning for air circulation, this is not a long-term solution, and too much thinning can lead to tree decline and death. Trees produce food and energy in their leaves, and removing leaves leads to one of two things: if a tree is healthy, it will simply grow more leaves to replace the ones lost; or, if a tree is already stressed, it will not have the energy to put out new leaves and will begging to suffer from lack of proper nutrition. For healthy trees, industry standards dictate removing no more than 25% of living canopy per year. For stressed or older trees, the acceptable percentage is even smaller. “Lion tailing” a tree (removing a majority of interior growth, leaving only small areas of canopy at the end of branches) is never an acceptable practice. If you are considering thinning your trees for light transmission, be sure to consult an ISA Certified Arborist to evaluate your trees’ health and provide guidelines for healthy trimming.

Why Does My Neighbor Have Grass Under Their Tree When I Don’t?

As with many tree questions, determining why one tree or yard seems to grow differently from another can be difficult. There are several factors that can determine how trees and turf grass will interact, including:

• Tree species and age

• Turf grass variety

• Direction and amount of daily sun

• Presence of other landscaping (shrubs, flower beds, etc.)

• Micro-environmental factors (soil condition, use of fertilizer/chemicals)

Ultimately, it is up to the homeowner to choose to focus on turf grass health or tree health. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get both types of landscaping to cooperate and thrive. Before investing in costly sod installation or other landscaping, be sure to understand how grass, trees, and other plants will interact with and affect each other.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! While we are inveterate tree huggers and may be a little biased, it is still true that properly-cared-for trees do more to capture atmospheric carbon, reduce urban heat islands, curtail excessive water usage, and provide mental and physical health benefits. We understand it can be heard to break away from social pressure to have an immaculate, green lawn, but homeowners who have moved toward native and natural landscaping are often amazed to see how easy, beautiful, and inexpensive their trees and gardens can be. We are always happy to talk about how to organize your yard around native trees for a look that is beautiful, unique, and low-maintenance. Let us know how we can help!