Tag ash tree

Are Trees Still Showing Signs of Freeze Damage? [May 2022 UPDATE]

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

Unfortunately for trees in North Texas, the effects of the February 2021 winter storm, often called “Winter Storm Uri” in the media, are still with us. The historically-low temperatures and winter precipitation in 2021 and the winter weather in February 2022 had a devastating impact on the health of trees and other vegetation and  recovery from those extreme conditions will take time. Common landscape trees in the DFW area, such as ash, live oaks, red oaks, wax myrtles, chinaberries, and Chinese tallow trees were some of the worst damaged by the freezing conditions and so the damage can still be seen in many parts of our community.

Different species and types of trees responded differently to the low temperatures.
Visit our previous posts for specific info:

My Tree Leafed Out in Spring 2022 but is Now Turning Brown. Is That Freeze Damage?

Due to the unprecedented nature of the winter weather in 2021 and 2022, it has been difficult to predict exactly how trees will respond and the nature and timing of any freeze-related decline.

  • Some species have seemed to bounce back from freeze damage only to show browning and die back after two or more growing seasons.

    • Red oaks and Japanese maples have been observed to leaf out in the spring as normal, only to start browning a few weeks later.

    • Unfortunately, once a tree’s canopy has completely browned or died, the tree may not be salvageable.

  • If a tree has partial browning or only some dead canopy:

    • Prune out the dead or dying sections

    • Follow good watering practices

    • Use soil amendments focused on increasing available nutrients

      • High nitrogen fertilizer is NOT recommended, as this can stimulate the tree to use up energy reserves to push new growth rather than increase overall health

A tree exhibiting severe freeze-thaw cracks. Even less drastic cracking can reduce a tree’s defenses against pests.

Should I Be Worried About Cracks in the Bark of My Trees?

Freeze-thaw cracks occur when rapid temperature swings cause the wood of a tree to swell and contract faster than normal. These cracks vary in size and severity. When the water inside a tree freezes, it can damage the tree’s vascular system, which moves nutrients throughout the entire tree. Widespread damage to the vascular system can lead to tree death.

Trees with freeze-thaw cracks need special care to encourage vascular system growth and nutrient availability.

  • Proper watering is essential.

  • Soil amendments and low nitrogen fertilizers can make additional nutrients readily accessible to the tree’s roots.

    • Fertilizing stressed and damaged trees must be done with care.

    • High nitrogen growth stimulators should be avoided.

  • Preventive insect treatment is recommended.

    • Cracks or other wounds in the bark are entry points for borer beetles and other pests.

    • Over time, the tree will be able to seal off (“compartmentalize”) the damaged sections, but this can be a slow process.

Why Does My Tree Have Large Dead Branches?

In cases where only parts of a tree were subject to severe frost damage, the main trunk may be free of freeze-thaw cracks or other issues while some large or small sections of the tree show browning and dieback. With rapid temperature swings and violent winter weather, a tree’s specific location and surroundings (such as nearby structures or other trees) can have a great impact on how the tree is affected. Because of this, trees of the same species on the same block may have shown wildly different responses to freezing weather. No matter the extent, it is best to remove dead and dying sections of the canopy and bolster the tree’s health with water and nutrients to give it the best chance to compartmentalize the dead and decayed sections and return to health.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! Recent extreme weather events present new challenges to our urban forest and it will likely be a few years before we have seen the full effects. Trees, by their nature, respond slowly to environmental changes and, if not properly cared for, can slide into a cycle of decline following storm damage or other severe weather. As we move into the heat of the summer our current drought conditions can worsen and accelerate tree decline and dieback. Now is the time to have one of our arborists evaluate your trees for their current needs and prescribe a health care plan to increase soil nutrient levels and manage insect activity. Contact us today!

Emerald Ash Borer in North Texas 2022 Update

by Texas Tree Surgeons Resources, Tree Health Care

As previously reported, the emerald ash borer beetle (EAB) has been making its way into North Texas in recent years. In 2016, specimens were found in Harrison County, Texas, near the Louisiana border. By 2018, the beetle had spread to Tarrant County. By 2022, EAB had been confirmed to be present in eight Texas counties: Bowie, Cass, Dallas, Denton, Harrison, Marion, and Tarrant. These areas are now under a Texas Department of Agriculture quarantine that restricts the movement of ash trees and tree materials, as well as firewood from all hardwood species, unless properly handled or treated.

While not the most common tree in our North Texas urban forest, ash species do make up 5-13% of the trees in the DFW area. While EAB poses a serious threat to the health of ash trees, there are preventative measures that can help slow the spread of the beetle and protect unaffected trees.

How Do I Tell If I Have Ash Trees?

Ash tree identification can be a little tricky if you are not used to it. Many North Texas can easily spot the distinctive leaf shapes of many oaks or maples, but the leaves of ash trees may cause them to be identified as pecans or other trees with similar leaf structures. One distinctive feature of ash trees is the seed pods that appear in the fall, and can be seen spiraling down as they drop to the ground.

  • There are several types of ash tree seen in North Texas; most commonly:

    • Arizona ash (Fraxinus velutina or Fraxinus berlandieria)

    • Green/red ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

    • Texas ash (Fraxinus albicans Buckley or Fraxinus texensis)

  • All ash varieties have similar characteristics:

  • Compound leaves

  • Tan to gray fissured bark

  • Unique seed pods

If you are unsure about what kind of trees you have, contact a local certified arborist who can help with identification.

What Should I Do about EAB If I Have Ash Trees?

With the spread of the emerald ash borer beetle, ash tree owners need to be particularly mindful of the state of their trees.

  • Preventative insecticide treatment can be effective

    • Must be administered before EAB is present

  • Diseased or damaged ash trees should be removed

    • EAB is attracted to the dead/dying wood and points of decay

  • Watch for signs of EAB

    • Dieback in upper canopy

    • Shoots/suckers along branches

    • Splitting/shedding bark with insect trails (“galleries”) underneath

    • Increased woodpecker activity

    • D-shaped holes in or under bark

  • EAB-infested trees

    • Once EAB is present, little can be done

      • Insecticide can slow decline in some cases

      • If more than 50% of canopy is dead, treatments are not effective

    • EAB kills trees in 2-5 years

EAB and Freeze-Damaged Trees

Trees in North Texas have been stressed by the freezing weather in recent years and are therefore more susceptible to pests of all kinds, including EAB. Dead branches in the crown of a tree may be a holdover from freeze damage or may be a sign of an infestation. Proper after-freeze care can help a tree regain its health and vigor, but any stressed ash trees should be assessed by an ISA Certified Arborist to ensure that EAB is not present. Preventive systemic insecticides are strongly recommended for stressed ash trees.

The tree on the right was treated with preventative EAB pesticide. The tree on the left was not treated due to frost damage. Both were exposed to EAB.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! The continuing spread of emerald ash borer in North Texas is a serious threat to our urban forest. Our arborists are staying up-to-date with guidance from the Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas Department of Agriculture to provide the highest level of care to our customers. If you have ash trees, even if they look healthy, give us a call to discuss whether preventative treatment is recommended for your area. If you have sick or stressed trees of any species, we offer full-service plant health care programs and can give your trees the best chance to survive and thrive. Get in touch today!

What To Do With Freeze-Damaged Ash and Elm Trees

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

The information in this article applies only to certain types of trees, such as elms, ashes, figs, crape myrtles, and even some other landscape plants like loropetalum. For information on what to do with your oaks or palm trees, see our other articles:

Oaks Looking Bad?

Will Palms Survive?

As with oaks, many species of trees, such as ash and elm, were severely damaged or killed by the freezing weather in February 2021. Even if your tree has not leafed out, or shown only sparse growth, there may be another option besides replacing it.

What Can You Do? Watch For New Sprouts!

  • Trees that have died from the ground up may still have living root systems.
    • If the tree cannot support the old growth, the energy in the roots may be directed to putting up new shoots around the base of the tree.
  • These new tree shoots have a great advantage over transplanted trees, as they are growing from a well-established root system.
    • While the new sprouts start out small, their growth will be supported by robust roots.
    • Local tree farm stocks are depleted after the storm, so it may be hard to find a suitable replacement.
    • Even with stump grinding, a transplanted tree should not be planted in the same place at the old tree.

Tree in North Texas showing extensive above-ground dieback and new growth from the roots.

Tree with extensive above-ground dieback showing new growth from the roots.

Remove The Dead Tree Carefully

  •  If you want to encourage the new sprouts into maturing into full trees, they must be protected from damage.
  • When removing the freeze-damaged tree, take care not to disturb any shoots growing around the base of the trunk.
    • Do not grind the stump, as this will destroy the established root system.
  • As the sprouts mature, begin to remove some of them, leaving one or two main shoots.
    • Once the main shoots are a year old, you can select one to continue cultivating and remove the others.
  • If you have a tree, such as an ash, that is threatened by insect or disease activity, consult an ISA Certified Arborist to ensure that preventative action is taken, if needed.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! The freeze of February 2021, like storms and tornadoes before it, will alter our North Texas urban forest in many ways. As we continue to monitor the response of trees and plants, we will continue to keep our community and customers informed, so that they have all the information necessary to take the best care of their trees. We are always happy to answer any questions you have about your trees freeze-damaged or not, so contact an arborist today!

Ask Texas Tree Surgeons: Do I Need to Worry About the Emerald Ash Borer? [UPDATED]

by Texas Tree Surgeons Ask Texas Tree Surgeons, Tree Health Care

 

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!

Dear Texas Tree Surgeons,

I’ve been hearing about the emerald ash borer, and it seems pretty serious; should I be worried?

-J.G.

You may have seen recent media coverage of the discovery of the emerald ash borer (“EAB”) in Texas. The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is a small, green beetle that feeds on ash trees. Though native to Asia, EAB first appeared in North America in 2002. In 2016, EAB was found in northeast Texas. In July 2017, suspected EAB specimens were found in Tarrant County. In early December 2018, the Texas A&M Forest Service confirmed that several ash trees near Eagle Mountain Lake had been killed by EAB infestation. In May 2020, Texas A&M confirmed presence of EAB in the Denton area.


Ash trees can grow quite large and provide valuable shade.

Ash trees have slender leaves that are often mistaken for pecan leaves.

Ash trees are known for their seeds which drop in the fall, spiraling to the ground.

Ash bark is light brown with vertical ridges.

Should I be Concerned About Emerald Ash Borer?

The threat from EAB is a serious one, as ash trees make up between 5-13% of the DFW urban forest, and are important providers of shade and clean air. If you do have ash trees, however, EAB infestation can be prevented.

Emerald Ash Borer Prevention Tips

  • If there are diseased or damaged ash trees, consider removal before they have a chance to be infested.
  • If there is EAB activity within a few miles, consider preventative systemic insecticide treatment.
  • Keep an eye out for signs of EAB activity:
    • Dead/dying branches in upper crown
    • Shoots/suckers along trunk
    • Splitting bark with insect trails underneath
    • Increased woodpecker activity
    • D-shaped exit holes

Can Emerald Ash Borer be Treated?

Unfortunately, once an ash tree has been infested by EAB, there is little that can be done. Insecticide treatments can help slow the decline of the tree, but once more than 50% of the canopy is gone, treatments are not effective. EAB generally kills infested trees in two to five years.

So, yes, the emerald ash borer is a serious threat to ash trees, but education and awareness now can help mitigate its effects. If you have ash trees, take note of their appearance, and contact your arborist if you see any signs of decline. If you don’t have any ash trees, you do not need to worry about EAB at all.

For more information on EAB, visit the Texas A&M Forest Service. For help identifying your trees, visit Trees of Texas.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! The spread of emerald ash borer, while a threat to a small percentage of North Texas trees, is a threat that we can all help to fight against. If you have ash trees or know someone who does, let us know, and one of our ISA Certified Arborists will be happy to evaluate the trees for EAB risk factors and provide options to keep them safe and healthy.