Houston tree expert says trees weakened by drought could pose danger to families if not trimmed

Aug. 16, 2011 - PRLog -- As Houston and other cities in Texas experience drought, trees, like people, feel the effects. They wilt and sometimes die.

Dead branches hang on these trees for months, and unless trimmed by tree professionals, can become hazardous to those around, according to 30-year Houston, Texas tree veteran and arborist, Louis Flory of Ability Tree Experts.

He said homeowners, especially those with younger children and pets, need to watch for these dead branches and trim them as quickly as possible.

“Due to the heat and drought, many trees are going to die. Now these branches can hang up there for months but can break or fall down without warning.”

“That is why it is so important that homeowners call in tree specialists who have the training and knowledge to manage trees. The specialists will know how to take care of them.”

Mr. Flory said trees are susceptible to diseases and pest infestation during drought due to their weak condition.

“Because of the excessive heat and lack of water, many of these trees will have problems. They become weak because they lack the needed nutrients. That is the time diseases like canker, heart rot, anthracnose and verticillium wilt, and pests like mealy bug, elm leaf beetle and lacebugs attack them.”

He said in their weakened state, these trees are dangerous. “If the trees or the branches break off and fall down while children are playing around, there is a good chance of injury to them. A lot of pets have been killed by falling branches.”

“They can also pose risks to properties. It costs a lot of money to fix homes damaged by falling trees or tree branches so it is important that homeowners take care of them now.”

He urged homeowners not to assume that because a tree is not showing signs of stress, everything is fine with the tree. “Trees can become stressed during drought conditions and most homeowners are not trained to recognize the warning signs. If any homeowner suspects that their trees may be stressed, it is better to call a tree expert and let them take care of it.”


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About Ability Tree Experts

Houston, Texas based Ability Tree Experts is a member of the National Arborist Association. With over 30 years’ experience in tree service, Ability Tree Experts are specialists in complete tree maintenance including tree care, tree trimming, tree removal, tree pruning and planting, tree diseases and pest control, tree fertilizing and cavity work, tree spraying, tree cabling and pre-construction consultation.