Houston tree specialist sounds alarm over Southern Pine Beetles infestation

Feb. 15, 2012 - PRLog -- Trees in Houston and other Texas cities are bracing for Southern Pine Beetles infestation and Houston tree specialist, Louis Flory with Ability Tree Experts (http://abilitytrees.com) says it could be devastating.

Area trees are weak from the effects of last summer’s prolonged and record-setting drought, and Southern Pine Beetles look for weakened trees to attack.

“In Southeast Texas, we lost millions of trees during the drought last year. Most of the trees that survived the hot weather were weakened as a result. Now we are noticing that a lot of these Southern Pine Beetles are moving in to attack them,” Louis Flory said this week.

“Because they are already so weak, many of these trees may not survive the onslaught,” he added.

Houston area parks patrons agree. Mary Ann Limmer, a park patron said Tuesday that she feels sad seeing what is going on with the trees. “It is so sad and it hurts your heart to see all these devastation,” she said.

“All of these used to be green and beautiful. Look at them now and to see these insects attacking them is unbelievable,” Mary Ann Limmer said.

Houston Arboretum Conservation Director, Joe Blanton agrees that majority of the trees may not survive the Pine Beetles attack due to their weakened state.

“Once the Southern Pine Beetles attack the pine trees, there is no hope for the trees. They will die,” he said regretfully this week.

City of Houston has so many dead or dying trees that the city has resorted to removing those trees they consider dangerous to people or properties.

“We are only removing a thousand trees that pose a hazard. We are leaving all the others to fall on their own,” Blanton added.

Ability Tree Experts’ Louis Flory said his company is ready to assist homeowners or businesses that need to remove dead or dying trees from their properties. “All they need to do is call us at 281-441-4179 or contact us through our Houston tree service website at http://abilitytrees.com and we will take care of the rest,” he said.

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.

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Ability Tree Experts is Houston's leading tree service experts. We are insured for your protection. Ability Tree Experts specializes in tree stump grinding, tree removal, tree pruning, tree trimming, winterizing and spring greening among others.