A MESSAGE FROM OUR RESIDENT ARBORIST AND FORESTER REGARDING OUR TREES

 

Many have expressed concern about the stress that the extraordinarily hot temperatures and drought is having on our trees. You may have noticed  the browning of leaves on many trees, particularly on Red Oaks, Post Oaks, Blackjack Oaks, Dogwoods, and some Hickories.  What you are witnessing is a phenomenon called "leaf drop" or drought induced defoliation. This is a defense mechanism to conserve energy and survive the low moisture conditions.  Some trees may physically drop their leaves like you see in Autumn, and others may turn brown and stay attached, depending on whether or not the abscision checmicals that allow the leaves to detach had time to develop during the defoliation process. You may also notice some trees dropping limbs---this is also a self preservation tactic a tree might employ to conserve energy. The trees are not necessarily dieing.  However, some trees will die, partullarly those that may have pre-existing conditions such as construction damage, disease, decay, or insect damage.  The longer the drought lasts the more likely some trees will succumb to the stress.  

 

Our trees need significant moisture.  In practical landscape situations where there is access to a water hose, you can help a stressed tree by delivering a long, slow and deep watering to the area within the critical root zone, also commonly known as the "drip line." Of course, we can't do this for all the trees in our forest, so, please continue to pray for beneficial rain.  My recommendation is to utilize your irrigation water to help the trees, which might mean to sacrifice a green lawn if need be.

 

Michael Hellmann, Certified Arborist, ISA TX-0976A