When drought hit this summer, trees in the area hadn’t recovered from the 2021 freeze.
Davey Tree’s Matt Petty, who has worked as an arborist for 15 years, says there’s been a significant increase in fatally-problematic trees. Petty calls it a delayed freeze response exacerbated by drought and recommends getting it professionally checked before winter arrives.
“Many of the dying trees look visibly weakened, but there are also what we call ‘zombie’ trees,” Petty said. and underlying health concerns won’t become apparent until it’s too late and the tree has fallen causing property damage.”
Even evergreens have been affected by recent environmental stressors, with some pines developing brownish-red spots that local dendrologists call “red flashes.”
Meteorologists forecast colder-than-normal winters in Houston, with the coldest months expected from mid-January to mid-February.
Trees do not feel the cold because they do not have a central nervous system, but they respond to light and go dormant when the daylight hours are short.
Most trees are dormant between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, so cold weather is an ideal time to prune. Best to remove.
Flowering trees such as fruit trees and crape myrtle should be pruned before they set buds.
With homes built in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, old Houston communities are densely populated with Quercus crispula and ash trees. Many of these are in significant decline as they near the end of their natural lifespan, Petty said.
“Many (homeowners associations) have sent notices to residents asking them to have their trees inspected by an arborist, and encourage them to do so, especially if they live in older communities.”
Many Houston tree companies, including Davey Tree, offer free consultations where an arborist will examine your plants and recommend services and suggestions to keep them healthy.
juhi.varma@hcnonline.com
