Archives January 2022

Water Your Trees Now!

by Texas Tree Surgeons Extreme Weather, Resources, Tree Health Care

Why should I water my trees in the winter?

After the extreme weather events in recent years, trees in North Texas are having a rough time.

  • Currently, 86% of Texas is under drought conditions, while North Texas is suffering from “severe drought”
    • Lack of water leads to a weakened immune systems in trees and higher susceptibility to disease and insects
  • Repeated, long-term stress can lead to tree decline
    • To avoid this, trees need extra attention and care NOW
  • While DFW-area trees are normally dormant during this time of year, warm temperatures have caused some to start budding out early, before the recent freeze
    • Producing new buds and leaves is a significant drain or a trees energy and water reserves

How should I water my trees?

  • Trees have different water needs than other landscape plants and turf grass
    Sprinkler systems are not sufficient for watering trees

    • Using the “slow soak” method every 7-10 days is best
  • A soaker hose around the entire root zone of the tree is recommended
  • If using a garden hose:
    • Place the hose 1-2 feet from the root flare
    • Run water at a volume enough to spread, but not so much as to puddle or stream away
    • Move hose throughout entire canopy area, ensuring complete coverage
    • Remember to let the ground dry between waterings to avoid over-watering
  • Non-native species, newly-planted trees, or stressed/sick trees may need watering more often
  • For more watering info, visit our watering guide or this publication from the Texas A&M Forest Service

What else can I do to help my trees during drought?

Mulch!

  • After watering, mulching is the most beneficial treatment for all trees
    • Mulch helps regulate soil temperature and moisture, prevents competition in the root zone, and adds beneficial nutrients to the soil
    • To learn how to properly apply mulch to your trees, visit our mulching guide
  • Remove any dead or damaged branches before spring
    • Dead wood is a magnet for insects and disease, and can become sites of rot and infestation
    • Branches that are dead or dying present a hazard, as they are prone to falling during inclement weather

Oak Wilt Season is Almost Here!

Oak wilt is a devastating disease that affects all species of oak trees. Spread through root systems and pruning cuts, the insects and fungi that cause oak wilt infections are most active between February and July every year. As always, we recommend avoiding all oak trimming, except for removing dead or damaged branches, during oak wilt season. If oak trees need to be trimmed during this time, we follow recommended protocols such as painting the cuts, which adds a fee of 20% to trimming prices. For more info about oak wilt, visit our post on the topic.

REMEMBER: Anyone who says that oak wilt is not a serious concern is incorrect. There is no known proven cure for oak wilt, and oak wilt treatments are expensive and do not have a high success rate. Prevention is the best approach!

Woman-Owned and Women-Strong

by Texas Tree Surgeons Resources

Texas Tree Surgeons is proud to be woman-owned and women-managed, and in January 2022, we celebrated another milestone as a third member of our team, Meaggan Reid, became an International Society of Arboriculture Board Certified Master Arborist® (BCMA). Meaggan joins our owner, Amy Heath, and our managing arborist, Hannah Edinburgh in an achievement that recognizes arborists who have reached “the pinnacle of their profession,” and which is held by fewer than two percent of all ISA Certified Arborists. In fact, there are only four women who are ISA BCMAs in the state of Texas, and three of them are at TTS! Meaggan is a recent addition to the family of women that make TTS strong, and we are proud of her achievement!

Amy Langbein Heath

since 2007

Amy’s journey to become an arborist began with a hike along the Appalachian Trail in 2005. Since then, Amy has dedicated herself to the care of trees and the education of tree-owners. First as an arborist, then as the owner, Amy has made Texas Tree Surgeons into a tree care company founded on a love of trees and a love of our community. Amy has endeavored to bring strong female leadership and innovation into a field historically dominated by men, and has inspired others to follow her example. Amy became the first woman in Texas to achieve BCMA status in 2019.

Hannah Edinburgh

since 2011

In 2011, Hannah’s parents had a tree fall in their backyard. Fortunately, Amy was the arborist they called to evaluate it. Amy’s passion for tree care and education inspired Hannah to turn her own love of the outdoors and wildlife into a career, and Hannah has since gone on to become a BCMA and a Registered Consulting Arborist.

Meaggan Reid

since 2021

Although she didn’t start her career in tree care at TTS, Meaggan was inspired by Amy’s example to seek a place on our team. Meaggan’s drive to offer the highest level of tree care and customer service was a natural fit, and her love of education and level of arboricultural knowledge was formally recognized with her achieving BCMA status in 2022. Meaggan has already shown her desire and support for the culture we seek to spread at TTS, and we are proud of her achievement and grateful to have her as part of our family!

Lindsey Brammer

since 2009

Amy’s first hire, Lindsey is a long-time believer that our success as a company is dependent upon our closeness and familial culture. Her care extends to her customers, and she is able to take her intelligence, skill, and training and communicate with those who may not know the first thing about trees.

Emily Long

since 2014

Emily found TTS through a friend of Amy’s, and she has brought outstanding customer service and sales, married with dedication to her community. A resident of Rockwall, she has developed a loyal customer base who value her expertise, guidance, and personality.

In addition to our arborists in the field, our office and management staff is women-led and organized under Jade Nowell, our operations manager, who has been with TTS longer than Amy! Jade exemplifies our ideals of strength, versatility, and customer care. From answering the phones, to bookkeeping, to crew dispatch, Jade is able to keep the wheels of TTS turning through storms, pandemics, and staffing shortages. Arborists, field crews, and office staff have all been able thrive and grow with Jade as their support.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community, especially all the women who work to improve the lives of others in every field. We are honored to have partnerships with other women-led organizations, such as Genesis Women’s Shelter and Turn Compost. Our sister company, Burn This Firewood, is woman-managed as well, with Maria Castro Gutierrez serving as the “Jade” of firewood. As we continue to grow, we hope to offer more opportunities for women in a male-dominated industry. Know of a woman who is interested in trees and would like to know more about what it means to be in tree care? Let us know!