Category Extreme Weather

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

• Live oak
• Crape myrtle
• Ash
• Elm
• Palms

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

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!

With over 90% of Texas in drought conditions, water conservation measures are in effect over much of the state. Caring for our urban forest during a drought requires special attention to our watering practices to ensure that trees get the water they need and none is wasted.

Do I Really Need To Water My Trees? I Have a Sprinkler System!

Yes! Even if you have a sprinkler system or regularly water your lawn, you need to water your trees as well.

• In-ground irrigation systems and hose-attached sprinklers are designed to provide water for turf grass and other ground cover.

  • Some sprinklers may be able to provide more water for small shrubs and bushes, but none of them are adequate to meet a mature tree’s water needs.

• If a tree is not properly mulched, it may be in competition for water resources with other plants.

  • If there is artificial grass present, water and nutrients in the soil may be scarce.

• Without adequate water, trees’ immune systems weaken, leading to increased susceptibility to disease and insects.

  • Repeated, long-term stress from lack of water can lead to a cycle of decline and tree death.

What is the Best Way to Water My Trees?

There are two main ways to get sufficient water to your trees: using a soaker hose or hand watering.

• Soaker Hose

  • Recommended for ease of use and coverage

  • Make sure the hose can cover the entire root zone

    • Depending on the type, hoses can be arranged in circles or a spiral around the tree or in radial lines leading out from the trunk

  • Run the soaker hose long enough to wet the ground in the root area to a depth of 10-12 inches

  • Check the soil to see how long it retains moisture and only water after the soil has dried

    • Too much water can be as bad as too little

    • Generally, watering should be every 7-10 days

• Hand Watering

  • Place a garden hose so that the outlet is 1-2 feet from the root flare of the tree

  • Turn on water enough to spread, but not so much that it puddles or streams away

  • Move hose around tree to ensure even watering of entire canopy area

  • As with soaker hoses, stop watering when soil is damp to a depth of 10-12 inches

  • Wait a few days and check soil moisture

    • Re-water when soil is dry to avoid excess dampness

• Special Considerations

  • Some trees may require watering more often

    • Stressed/sick trees (such as by freeze damage or pest activity)

    • Non-native species

    • Recently-planted trees

  • During periods of wet weather, do not water too often

    • Excess soil moisture can cause rapid growth of harmful microorganisms

How Can I Help My Trees Retain Moisture in a Drought?

After watering, mulching is the most effective way to regulate tree moisture. Proper mulching helps regulate soil temperature, slows evaporation, and contributes to soil nutrients as it breaks down.

Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers and growth stimulators, as these can cause a tree to use up energy stores and require more water to maintain. Organic soil amendments and compost can be added to soil and mulch if needed.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! While the summer months can be fun, the drought conditions they often bring can be stressful to people and plants. Proper watering of our urban forest leads to healthy trees that can help regulate heat, provide shade, and keep the air fresh. Have questions about how best to care for your trees during drought? Contact us today!

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!

What To Do

• Go outside and check on your trees!
  • No leaves or only brown leaves
    • Sadly, time to remove
  • At least half the canopy?
    • Start soil amendments and watering
  • Not sure?
    • Have one of our ISA Certified Arborists out to evaluate your trees and provide recommendations

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.

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?

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!

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!