Category Events

Tree inside of container with a person in the background digging a hole.

[UPDATED] Free Trees in North Texas 2021!

by Texas Tree Surgeons Events

With the devastating weather events we have had in recent years, trees in North Texas are struggling. Here are a few opportunities to get a free tree for your yard and help our urban forest recover!

The City of Dallas is running its Branch Out Dallas program again this year! Dallas residents can register for one of six different tree species during September for pickup in early November.

The free trees available for 2021 are:

  • Bur Oak
  • Chinquapin Oak
  • Sycamore
  • American Elm
  • Mexican Plum
  • Baldcypress

Visit the Branch Out Dallas page to sign up!

The Texas Trees Foundation is committed to the planting of trees in areas that need them the most. As part of their work, the Foundation is creating green spaces at North Texas school campuses and the neighborhoods around them.

Currently, the Texas Trees Foundation is offering free trees to residents of the areas around four Dallas elementary schools:

If you live within a one-mile radius of any of these campuses, you can sign up to receive one or two free trees to plant in the right-of-way between the sidewalk and street in front of your house!

For more information about the trees being offered and to sign up, visit the Texas Trees Foundation Neighborwoods page.

If you need some ideas on trees to look for, check out our list of the Top Ornamental Trees for North Texas!

It’s Time for Action on Freeze-Damaged Trees!

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

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees, and we hate to be the bearers of bad news, but if your tree has not recovered from the recent freeze, action needs to be taken soon. After the freeze in February 2021, many North Texas plants and trees were frost-damaged and unrecoverable. At the time, we recommended waiting until the summer to make a decision on removal, to give the damaged trees a chance to recover.

By this point in the year, if your trees have not leafed out, or leafed out and have since turned brown, and if your palms and other plants show no new green growth, it is time to re-evaluate them for removal. Time is of the essence when removing trees, as they can become more dangerous, difficult, and expensive to remove the longer they are left standing. Also, the chance of limb breakage and major structural failure greatly increases as dead trees are left in the ground, leading to a higher risk of injury to person or damage to property. As the spring rains give way to the summer heat, dead trees will start to dry out, reducing structural stability.

If on the other hand, your trees have at least 50% of their canopies, they may still recover. It is important to start soil amendments and proper watering to give these stressed trees a better chance of making it through the summer heat. NOTE: standard (high-nitrogen) fertilizer, such as lawn fertilizer, over-the-counter products, or weed and feed products are NOT recommended for freeze-stressed trees. Stressed trees need particular soil amendments and nutrients. Contact us today to find out what your trees need!

Trees with at least half of the canopy remaining should be treated with soil amendments and proper watering.

Read More About Proper Fertilization

Read More About Watering

What To Do

Why Were Some Trees Hit Harder Than Others?

  • Underlying issues and stressors
  • Age
  • Tree location with respect to the storm front
    • Shelter from buildings or other trees

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees, and while we hate to have to remove them, we are committed to sustainability and recycle our wood waste through our sister company Burn This Firewood. We also offset our tree removals by partnering with local and international organizations dedicated to replanting and reforestation.

Are Your Oaks Looking Bad? They are Still Recovering from the Freeze!

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

The unprecedented winter weather in February 2021 will have a lasting effect on North Texas. Many trees and plants have already failed to come back from the freezing temperatures and had to be removed. Others may be showing signs of new growth, but are still struggling. The Texas A&M Forest Service and other experts have reiterated the need to care for freeze-damaged and stressed trees to give them the best chance of recovering.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? KEEP WAITING!

Freeze-stressed trees, especially oaks, may be putting out some new leaves, but are much less vigorous than in previous years.

  • Continue to monitor them, and do what you can to alleviate stress.
  • Water your stressed trees properly, and make sure not to flood the roots with overwatering.
  • Avoid preventative insecticide or fungicide treatments; treat only those pests that are currently active in the tree.

Texas live oak tree showing signs of freeze damage and related stress

Live oak showing signs of freeze-related stress

Texas red oak tree showing signs of freeze damage and related stress.

Red oak affected by the freeze in Februrary 2021

RECOVERY WILL TAKE A LONG TIME

Whatever the progress of your tree’s recovery, it will take months and possibly years to regain the health it had before the winter storms.

  • If a tree has shown no signs of new growth by July, it will likely never recover.
  • Trees with sparse growth may be able to leaf out normally in a year or two, so consider waiting to remove.
  • As always, contact an ISA Certified Arborist to evaluate your trees’ progress and make recommendations for care.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! We are constantly in discussion with experts in the fields of arboriculture and horticulture throughout Texas as we try to manage the effects of February’s freeze. Our ISA Certified Arborists are happy to assess your trees and help you provide the best care during this period of residual stress. As we move into the heat of the summer, potential for heat-related stress increases, so contact an arborist today!

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.

Free Trees for Dallas Tornado Recovery!

by Texas Tree Surgeons Events

In October 2019, Dallas was hit with a devastating tornado. As part of ongoing recovery efforts, the Texas Trees Foundation is partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation and International Paper to give away 500 free trees to Dallas residents who were affected by last year’s storms.

Registration is open and continues until all trees have been allotted. The trees will be available for pick-up Saturday, October 31st.

This round, the available species are:

All of these are great Texas trees, but if you wonder which one might be best for your yard, get in touch with your arborist. We are happy to make a recommendation!

For more information about the tree giveaway and to register, visit the Texas Trees Foundation site.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, and we are excited about these local programs to encourage tree planting! If you have any questions about the best way to plant a tree, or any other tree questions, let us know!

What’s Blooming in North Texas?

by Texas Tree Surgeons Events, Resources

As the weather warms up in the spring, we see trees begin to bud out in at different times. Most of our North Texas trees don’t have colorful blossoms in Spring, but there are a few notable exceptions.

Saucer/Tulip Magnolia

An impressive early spring bloomer is the saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangena) or closely-related tulip magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora).  Much smaller that the common southern magnolia, this tree grows to about four feet tall. While it shows green foliage through much of the year and may be overlooked, the highlights of the saucer or tulip magnolia are its namesake pink and purple blossoms that show in early spring before the new leaves open. These trees thrive in alkaline soils, like we have in much of the DFW area.

Purple Leaf Plum

The purple leaf plum is a non-fruiting tree with brilliant purple leaves that look beautiful summer long. In the spring, delicate pink flowers bloom on the branches, creating a dramatic scene before the new leaves begin pushing out. The purple leaf plum will have more flowers and darker purple leaves when planted in direct sunlight.

RedBud

Whether you have an Eastern redbud, Texas redbud, Mexican redbud, or another cultivar, you are likely seeing its pink or purple blossoms appearing. An early bloomer, the redbud’s blossoms are often the first herald of spring. Even after blossoming, however, the redbud’s heart-shaped leaves and attractive seed pods make it a stunner all year long.

Flowering Dogwood

Flowering dogwoods are understory trees that do best in the shade from larger species. Their white flowers in the spring and red berries in the fall are a common site in Southern gardens. Dogwoods can grow in the North Texas area but tend to do better in the sandier soils of East Texas. If you do have dogwoods, we recommend adding iron and other nutrients to the soil to help keep them healthy and blossoming.

Fruit Trees

There are few fruit trees that can thrive in North Texas due to the generally hot and dry climate and ill-suited soil conditions, but you will still see a few putting our blossoms in the spring. The more flowers a tree has, the more fruit it can produce, as the flowers are the starting point for fruit development. If you have a fruit tree, it may need special care, fertilization, and soil amendments.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, and we are happy to see spring flowers starting to appear! If you are looking for recommendations of ornamental trees for color variety in the Spring or year-round, check out our previous posts for some suggestions! As always, if you have any questions about blossoming trees, ornamentals or anything else, let us know!