All posts by Texas Tree Surgeons

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.

For many of us, mistletoe is a welcome feature of the Christmas holidays; a decorative sprig hung in hopes of stealing a kiss. In nature, however, mistletoe is a parasite that can infest many different plant species, leeching water and nutrients, and can be not only unsightly, but hazardous to the health of a tree.

What is Mistletoe?

Mistletoe is the common name for several different species of plants in the order Santalales. In North Texas, and over most of North America, the most-commonly seen species are in the genus Phoradendron, such as Phoradendron tormentosa, or Christmas mistletoe. Several different species of tree can serve as host to mistletoe, including oaks, pecans, and hackberries, but in North Texas, mistletoe is most commonly found in cedar elms. Mistletoe is easily identified by its small, leathery green leaves and white berries. During the fall and winter, when the host tree’s leaves have fallen, mistletoe identification is even easier, as its leaves remain green.

Mistletoe is a hemiparasitic plant, which means that it gets some, but not all, of its nutrients from the host plant. Its leaves allow mistletoe to produce some food internally, but the plant cannot grow by itself. The seeds are most often spread in bird droppings or by other animal contact. The mistetoe’s berries, which contain the seeds, are attractive to many species of bird, but mistletoe berries are toxic to humans and pets.

Is Mistletoe Bad for Trees?

As a parasite, mistletoe does have an adverse effect on its host plant. Mistletoe takes water and nutrients from the host tree’s sap, which can deprive the branches of food. While a low to moderate mistletoe population may have no noticeable impact on the host tree’s health, as infestations grow, interruption to the tree’s nutrient cycle can lead to a loss of vigor. Trees with underlying stressors, such as drought, can be more easily affected by mistletoe.

Can Mistletoe be Removed or Prevented?

Unfortunately, there is no universally effective chemical treatment for mistletoe. Removing affected branches remains the only proven way of managing a mistletoe infestation. Mistletoe develops a root structure in the tree’s sapwood, which means the host branch must be completely removed to prevent regrowth. For larger infestations, however, it may not be practical to remove entire affected limbs. In these cases, removing the surface mistletoe growths can help slow its spread, but will need to be repeated. Whichever method of physical management is used, mistletoe removed before it begins producing berries (that is, during the first three years of its life) can be more easily controlled. Once the mistletoe has fruited, it can spread quickly through bird activity.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! While we are always happy to see mistletoe at the holidays, we want to keep our North Texas trees free from its effects. During the fall and winter, after leaf drop, is not only the best time to trim your tree, but is the ideal time to remove mistletoe, when its bright green leaves stand out against the gray and brown branches. Think your tree has mistletoe and want some management options? Give us a call, and one of our ISA Certified Arborists will be happy to take a look!

Firewood Pickup and Delivery Now Available!

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! That’s why we bring you Burn This Firewood!

In the past 20 years, we have seen tons of wood waste being sent to landfills. With our recent relocation to our new home in Garland, we are able to save much of that wood from being thrown away by recycling it into firewood and mulch!

Local firewood is always best, and we are happy to be able to offer mixed hardwood firewood by the piece or by the cord. We can even deliver it right to your door or patio or deck or wherever! Stock up on locally-sourced wood and be ready to keep your fireplace, grill, or campfire going all season long!

Also, we always have FREE mulch available for pickup! If you are interested in larger quantities, we can even arrange delivery for a fee. Non-profits like school, and community gardens always get free mulch delivery.

Thank you for helping us continue to serve our community and keep our urban forest healthy! Remember, if you are a customer of Texas Tree Surgeons, you always get 10% off of any firewood order.

And Don’t Forget…

Fall and winter are the best times to trim trees! When trees are dormant during the cooler months, they are more resistant to the stress of trimming, and there are fewer active insects and other pests that can prey on trees. Trimming your trees in the fall prepares them for storms and inclement weather by removing broken or dead branches, reducing weight, and thinning the canopy to lessen the risk of falling debris.

Contact us today to set up a visit from your arborist!

It seems that artificial turf is becoming more and more popular each year. With less required maintenance and year-round color, artificial grass can seem like an easy way to have a lush, green lawn. One thing that synthetic turf cannot replicate, however, is the role of natural turf grass in the ecosystem of your yard. Replacing a living organism with a nonorganic ground cover can have unseen adverse effects on other landscape plants, especially trees.

Is Artificial Turf Good For Trees?

The short answer is “no.” To understand why, we need to understand the benefits that natural grass brings to the soil around a tree.

• Synthetic grass reduces the water and air that can penetrate into the soil and be taken up by the roots.
  • While artificial turf is somewhat porous, natural turf is constantly aerating the soil with its roots and keeping the ground from becoming hard and compacted.
• The environment created by synthetic turf is harmful to beneficial fungi and bacteria that naturally occur in the soil.
  • These microorganisms need the biomatter from organic lawn coverings to thrive.
  • Without these fungi and bacteria, the nutrients trees feed on will not be replenished and the soil will become inhospitable.
• Artificial grass prevents above-ground nutrients from reaching tree roots.
  • Similarly to how it does not allow air and water to penetrate easily, artificial turf also prevents natural organic materials (leaf litter, insect castings, etc.) from easily reaching the soil and the tree’s root system.
  • When synthetic turf is rinsed off, much of the organic material on top of it is washed away and a major source of nutrients for the tree is lost.
• If herbicide is used in conjunction with synthetic turf, trees can be poisoned.
  • Herbicides are often used to prepare an area for artificial turf installation.
    • These herbicides can be taken up by a tree’s roots and poison the tree, sometimes irreparably.

Will Artificial Grass Kill My Tree?

Short answer: “yes.” However, the decline of a tree because of artificial turf installation can be a long process and it may take several years to see the signs. Depending on the age and health of a tree, it may have enough reserves of energy to go three to five years without showing signs of stress. However, much like with construction stress, once a cycle of decline has begun, it is difficult to control and it can be impossible to prevent the death of the tree.

Does Synthetic Grass Cause Issues With Having My Trees Trimmed?

In addition to the deleterious health effects on the trees themselves, synthetic turf poses unique problems when considering having tree trimming, tree removal, or other tree work performed.

• Debris from tree work, such as sawdust, can easily get caught in artificial turf, cause clumping, and be difficult and time-consuming to remove.
• Heat and oil from tools and machinery can discolor or melt artificial grass, making repair or replacement necessary.
• Even when care is taken, the weight and impact of falling limbs and trunks can cause divots, dents, and tears in synthetic turf, also necessitating repair or replacement.

How can I help a tree that has synthetic turf around it?

If you have an artificial turf lawn, don’t worry! There are several things you can do to help your trees survive.

• Give your trees as much room as possible.
  • Leave a gap between the tree trunk and any non-organic ground cover (artificial grass, landscape fabric).
    • We recommend a buffer zone of at least four feet.
• Consider installing ports in synthetic turf for fertilization.
  • When fertilizer is applied using a feeder rod, it is necessary to puncture synthetic grass to access the soil and root system.
  • Pre-installation of ports allows for easy access and minimizes repairs.
• Fertilize your trees regularly with a product that contains organic matter that can enrich the soil.
  • Artificial turf kills beneficial bacteria and fungi, so these organisms need to be replenished.
• Water your trees during dry periods.
  • Without the indicator of browning grass, it can be difficult to remember that living plants still need water.
  • Establish a good watering routine to keep your trees healthy during hot and dry seasons.
• Before installing artificial grass, consult an ISA Certified Arborists  to evaluate your trees.
  • An arborist can make you aware of any pre-existing issues with your trees and provide advice on how best to prepare your trees for the stress of synthetic turf installation.
• Make sure to use a company employing ISA Certified Arborists for any tree health or trimming needs.
  • Inform them that you have synthetic grass around the tree, so that your arborist can be prepared to look for signs of decline.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! Artificial turf can make lawn care easy, but it’s important to be aware of the impact synthetic grass can have on trees and the living components of your landscape. If you are considering having artificial grass installed, or want to know what impact your synthetic turf is having on your trees, one of our certified arborists would be happy to come out and have a look. Contact us today!

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:

• Texas Redbud
• Chinkapin Oak
• Shumard (Red) Oak
• Desert Willow
• Red Maple

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!