Our Plant Health Care Programs are designed to deliver the right nutrients at the right times throughout the year. We use the highest quality soil conditioners and fertilizers that are delivered at critical points throughout the seasons to optimize the growth and health of trees.
Our blends of nutrients and soil amendments are not simply designed to promote canopy growth but to strengthen and improve the overall health of the tree from the roots up, delivering healthier, greener, more aesthetically-pleasing trees and shrubs. Our uniquely developed mixtures promote stability and growth for trees efficiently and safely, without the worry of harmful chemicals that some companies use and can be damaging to the surrounding environment.

Our unique mixtures combine macro- and micro-nutrients, root growth stimulators, soil conditioners, beneficial biotics (both mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria), and organic materials to cultivate the optimum natural growth environment.

THE NEED FOR SOIL AERATION

Urban soils differ dramatically from their forest counterparts in many ways. Urban soils typically have low nutrient content, putting stress on trees and plants. Forest soils are replenished by the decay of organic material such as fallen leaves, and this breaks down nutrients and improves the soil structure. Urban soils lack this beneficial cycle and organic debris are usually removed, considerably slowing down the natural processes. Urban soils also have an immense competition for resources from grass and other landscaping, reducing the nutrients, water, and air from surrounding soils. Urban soils are heavily compacted from general construction activities, turf installation, routine irrigation, and mechanical and human traffic. These activities compact the soil, reducing root expansion and water penetration. This results in tree and plant stress.

Effects of Compaction

• Reduced growth
• Dieback
• Tree or plant loss
• Poor color
• Increased susceptibility to insects and diseases

Key Benefits of Root Zone Aeration

Drastically improves tree health by increasing the tree root’s access to air, water, and nutrients through soil fracturing thus allowing easier root development
Relieves soil compaction by decreasing soil density to support better absorption of moisture and nutrients

The economic benefits of trees can be both direct and indirect. Direct economic benefits are usually associated with energy costs. Air-conditioning costs are lower in tree-shaded homes. Heating costs are reduced when a home has a windbreak. Trees increase in value from the time they are planted until they mature. Trees are a wise investment of funds because landscaped homes are more valuable than non-landscaped homes. Construction is the most common cause of tree death in urban environments, and while the effects may not be immediately apparent, the tree can be in decline and die years after nearby construction has been completed. Mechanical tree injury, root damage, loss of rooting space, changes in soil moisture, soil compaction and contamination are some of our biggest concerns.

As a tree matures certain growth patterns can leave your tree more prone to structural issues including limb failures or split trunks.

Limb failure can be devastating. The damage done can be costly and it can greatly affect the shape and health of your tree and damage property. Proper pruning and weight reduction can help, but often cables and braces may be a safer and more effective approach. The installation of cables within a tree helps to manage the stress created by poor limb structure by reinforcing the pre-existing joint and helping to redistribute weight. The angle of a limb’s growth is indicative of it’s structural integrity. It may seem counterintuitive, but the wider and more “U” shaped the angle is at the joint between two limbs, the stronger that joint tends to be. The more acute, and “V” shaped joints fail for more frequently because they create oppositional pressure within the joint, and do not hold on as tightly when stressed.

Split trunks are most often found on multi-trunked trees. As these trees grow, the weight increases and width of their original stems increases growing wider and wider. Eventually, these trunks will start to grow in a way that creates internal pressure along the joint at the base of the tree. If you notice any cracking at the base of your tree, contact us for a free consult by a Certified Arborist, as this can be a strong indicator of a potential hazard. If caught early enough, installing bolting rods and stabilizing cables can help stabilize trees and branches.

Our Certified Arborists will assess your tree’s need for cables. The installation is done by our trained professionals. It is very important to have cables and bolts installed correctly; using the wrong equipment or outdated techniques can do more harm than good. Texas Tree Surgeons uses top of the line materials, and installs them using techniques outlined by The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

Oak Wilt is a disease caused by a fungus that attacks and can quickly kill oak trees. Red oaks are very susceptible to Oak Wilt. While different species of oak respond to the disease in different ways, all oaks are susceptible, and Oak Wilt has already killed millions of Texas trees.

The fungus that causes Oak Wilt, Ceratocystis fagacearum, can be spread through the roots of adjacent trees or through insect activity. While some species, particularly red oaks, die quickly after infection, other species may live for many years after initial infection, allowing Oak Wilt to be transmitted to other oaks in the area. Dead wood from infected trees (such as firewood from red oaks) can also help to spread Oak WIlt, as it becomes a target for the insects (such as sap beetles (Nitidulidae)) that can transfer the fungal spores to living trees.

Because Oak Wilt is prevalent in Texas, the ISA has created a special training course for Texas Certified Arborists. At Texas Tree Surgeons, all of our Certified Arborists are Texas Oak Wilt Qualified or Certified, meaning they have passed an examination on Oak Wilt causes, prevention, and treatment administered by the ISA. Furthermore, they must maintain their credentials through continuing education and re-training. As research on Oak WIlt management and treatment continues in Texas, our Certified Arborists remain at the forefront of their field.

There are several areas in North Texas and the DFW area that have had recent Oak Wilt activity. These include

• Preston Hollow, Dallas
• Lakewood, Dallas
• Walnut Hill and Abrams, Dallas
• Coit and Campbell, Richardson
• President George Bush Turnpike and the Dallas North Tollway
• Park and US 75 in Plano
• Highland Park
• University Park

Even if you are not in an area with current Oak Wilt activity, Texas Tree Surgeons recommends following general Oak Wilt precautions:

• Do not trim oak trees between the months of February and July
• If oaks must be trimmed during Oak Wilt Season, seal pruning cuts where possible
• Clear out dead wood from oaks and take care not to cause unnecessary open wounds
• Do not keep red oak firewood

For those of us in neighborhoods with Oak Wilt activity:

• Protect all trees, and especially oaks, against insects
• Be aware of dead and dying trees and advise neighbors to remove dead wood from their property
• Connect with neighbors to help improve awareness
• If Oak Wilt is within 100 feet of your trees, consider preventative treatments

How do you know if Oak Wilt is in your area? Keep your eyes open for these signs and symptoms:

• Dead wood or defoliation in oaks
• Production of small leaves on trunks and large limbs after dieback
• Leaves with browning at edges (red oaks) or along veins (live oaks)
• Fungal mats forming on surface of wood, starting out gray- or buff-colored and turning black as they age
• Cracking and peeling bark
• Visible insect activity

While these signs do not necessarily indicate Oak Wilt, presence or one or more of them may indicate potential issues. A visit from a Texas Tree Surgeons Certified Arborist can help you to understand the health of your trees and plan out your next steps.

If you decide, after discussions with a Certified Arborist, that a Plant Health Care program would be best for your trees, Texas Tree Surgeons has a range of plans that can help your tree fight off insects, bolster its natural immunity, and even offer some Oak WIlt-specific anti-fungal treatments. Texas Tree Surgeons closely follows research and guidelines put out by the ISA and the Texas Forest Service to make sure we can provide the best in Oak Wilt prevention and management.

For more information, visit https://texasoakwilt.org or contact us to set up a visit from a Certified Arborist.