Witches’brooms occur on a number of conifers and deciduous tree species. They are caused by a number of factors that result in a great proliferation of shoots with short internodes that can look like a bundle of twigs or witch’s broom. In other cases they appear as a...
The Fluffy Balls On My Oak Tree Harmful?
What are the fluffy balls under the leaves on my oak tree? Sounds like one of the many insect galls we’re seeing on oaks this year. It is a place where their young develop after the egg is laid within the gall. No big deal to the tree though. Either remove it or leave...
Oak Tree Struck By Lightning
I have a very large dual trunk oak that was struck by lightning last night. It blew off a large section of bark and has a split along one trunk about 30 ft. How can I keep from losing this tree? The effects of a lightning strike vary greatly and all you can do...
Japanese Maples in Parker County
Will Japanese Maples survive in Parker County? Japanese maples are marginally happy here. They are medium water plants. Japanese Maple varieties that survive here are limited here to the large leaf types (palmatum). They prefer dappled shade and no intense mid-day or...
Is There Value in Whitewashing Tree Trunks?
“I cannot see any value in this practice.” Special thanks to Courtney Blevins, CF Regional Urban Forester Texas Forest Service, Ft. Worth
Arizona Cypress
This is a native Texas evergreen with a height of up to 90 feet. The trunk generally reaches 2 feet in diameter and will have unique blue-gray foliage…
Bur Oak
A large deciduous tree being able to reach 80 feet in height; however, the spread is generally less than 30 feet when mature…
Pecan
Who does not love the state tree of Texas. The Pecan can rise 120 feet in height and with a 75 foot canopy. This is quite an impressive tree…
Shumard Oak
A large forest tree reaching heights of 100 feet or more and a trunk to 3 feet in diameter, with a wide-spreading, symmetrical crown. The Shurmard is…
Removing a Limb from a Tree
What is the best way to deal with broken tree branches from icy weather? It is best to allow the damaged tree to thaw before attempting to work with it as your efforts may produce more damage. Do not attempt to remove ice by striking the branches. Trees are fairly...