Zombie trees invade Houston landscapes ! (Austin, Brenham: live, move, yard)

[Jack Lance]

Matthew Petty, an arborist with Davey Tree Expert Co., said he has seen evidence of tree stress across the city since July. August’s searing heat brought no relief. Some arborists have even coined a name for specimens that look alive but are in fact hovering above already-dead root systems: Zombie trees.


“People think their trees are dying for no reason, but roots are compromised,” Petty said. “We’ve had odd weather patterns, with Harvey, hard freezes last winter and long, hot dry spells this summer. Trees that were already stressed, that pushed them over the edge.”
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lif...photo-16111989




Do you have Zombie trees in your back yard ? mwhaaaa

[bohunak]

I do, I have a lot of dead trees. Will be expensive for me this year to remove all of it. Not to mention that I'm upset about cutting the trees, always wanted to keep it. A lot of problems with trees last 2 years.

[gwarnecke]

My tree that spent a week in 3 feet of water during Harvey is actually looking better this year than last.

[Steeped]

Originally Posted by gwarnecke

My tree that spent a week in 3 feet of water during Harvey is actually looking better this year than last.

in east texas, they go through deeper cold spells and longer summer dry spells than houston ever does, and they got thick forest. its obvs that weather is only an indirect factor at best, as it only allows the true issues (soil type, fungus, insect pests, specimen genetics etc) to present.

its also obvs that decidous trees arent for houstons climate; all the trees having issues happen to be decidous trees. the post oak especially has been experiencing quite the die off all over the state in recent years. just replace with evergreen live oaks, pines, and magnolias.

[cBach]

Do most people in Houston have sprinkler systems like they do in Austin?

Austin is much drier than Houston but we don't have such a die off so I'm wondering if Houstonians installed sprinkler systems if that would help.

I have 3 Live Oak Trees in my yard, 13 Spanish Oaks, 2 Pin Oaks, 2 Crepe Myrtles, an oleander, and two Italian Cypress trees and they are all doing fine.

[Steeped]

Originally Posted by cBach

I have 3 Live Oak Trees in my yard, 13 Spanish Oaks, 2 Pin Oaks, 2 Crepe Myrtles, an oleander, and two Italian Cypress trees and they are all doing fine.

those arent the trees they were mentioned in the article. so like it said, its probs just specific trees that go through this.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by Steeped

in east texas, they go through deeper cold spells and longer summer dry spells than houston ever does, and they got thick forest. its obvs that weather is only an indirect factor at best, as it only allows the true issues (soil type, fungus, insect pests, specimen genetics etc) to present.

its also obvs that decidous trees arent for houstons climate; all the trees having issues happen to be decidous trees. the post oak especially has been experiencing quite the die off all over the state in recent years. just replace with evergreen live oaks, pines, and magnolias.

Nonsense, there are many deciduous trees that are native to SE Texas and Houston.

Our place in Brenham also has a number of ill-looking trees over the last 2 months, including post oaks and cedar elms.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Our place in Brenham also has a number of ill-looking trees over the last 2 months, including post oaks and cedar elms.

Did you water them?

[Steeped]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Nonsense, there are many deciduous trees that are native to SE Texas and Houston.

true, but its obvious that se texas/houston is barely at their range limit. check the usda zones, most of these trees are literally hanging on a thread being here, just thanks to the few days of deep winter freezes. and climate change going through, the deciduous trees dont have much time left before they die off.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by cBach

Did you water them?

No, I'm talking about naturally occurring trees.