Hank
shedding |
How long and how often will my Live Oak shed, dropping acorns and leaves all over drive-way and patio? I don't recall it shedding this bad last year.
Clay at New Heights Tree Service
Live oaks can shed at some degree all year long. They are not true evergreens and do cycle all of there foliage annually. Acorns are primarily an autumn thing though some could drop through fall. The leaf drop could be accelerated by this years drought. Fertilizing will help minimize leaf drop in the summer and keep also prevent double cycling of early leaf drop.
|
Mary Schwan
lemon trees |
What causes patches of small dark spots on the lemon rind that start to appear around August? The spots can't be rubbed off and don't seem to affect the fruit. Thank you.
Clay at New Heights Tree Service
This is most likely fungus caused by the heavy recent rainfall. This is amplified if your lemon trees are under the canopy of other trees or fall in the shadow of trees or structures. Increasing light penetration and increasing airflow by moving your tree (if potted) or trimming other trees can help. Also be sure that sprinklers are not spraying directly on foliage of trees.
|
Charles Edwards
Texas Red Oak |
I planted a red oak in my backyard 5 years ago that was 8 feet tall, scince then it has only gotten a foot taller and the main trunk has only increased a 1/2" in diamenter is that the normal growth rate? Marbach & 1604 area.
Clay at New Heights Tree Service
This is definitely a low growth rate. If this tree was a B&B (as opposed to container grown) tree it would take it about a about a year per inch in trunk diameter to recover from the transplant. However it should be putting on about a half inch of trunk dia. and foot of height a year. you should look into soil enrichment and fertilizing. You can pick up a good slow release granular fertilizer at home depot or your local garden center, or of course, we offer deep root injections. Now is an optimal time to fertilize because of the root growth period in the fall.
http://sanantonio-treeservice.com/fertilizing.html
|
bob walker
Live Oak therapy |
I live in Braun Station, and have what should be lovely, large live oaks. But they worry me. The foliage seems thin, scanty and small leafed - especially when compared to trees in, say, Monte Vista. There is a white coating on some of the branches and lots of ball moss. It's not just my trees, though they seem worse than my neighbors'. Do we need to fertilize, spray, or what?
Clay at New Heights Tree Service
Braun Station is known for its rocky landscape and low soil content. because the soil is limited it is easily depleted of nutrients. The recent drought most likely contributed to the thinness of the canopies, also. The white coating on the oak branches (lichen) and the ball-moss are just opportunistic fungus that is only a result of the trees less than vigorous condition. Fertilization and routine watering is recommended, your local gardening shop should carry some good granular fertilizers and lawn dressings that should to the trick over time.
|
Chris Saddler
Black Spots on Live Oak Tree |
Several leaves have black spots on our live oak tree. What can we do? Will it kill our trees? Thank You.
Clay at New Heights Tree Service
The black spot fungus is most likely a result of the recent heavy rainfall, and will not kill your trees. The fungus can be treated with a general fungicide if it is not wide spread but will return if rainfall persist. Thinning the canopy for ventilation is of a long term solution . Most of the time it will just run its course but if you fertilize it will help maintain the health and stability of the affected tree.
|
Barbara Dill
Mexican Lime Tree |
My lime tree is 3 years old in a large pot...Been producing for 2 years.....lost count of the delicious limes......The leaves are turning yellow and I would like to know why and what I can do to remedy this.......thank you
Clay at New Heights Tree Service
A number of things could cause this.
First A good rule of thumb for watering your tree is 5-10 gallons of water twice a week for every inch of trunk diameter. Second a few nutrient deficiencies could do this, nitrogen and iron are are generally looked to for these symptoms. Also, an alkaline soil or high PH balance can make the nutrients in the soil unattainable. Your local gardening center may sell a PH balance test kit.
|
Cynthia and David Wood
Tangerine Trees |
First time fruit bearing tree==9 tangerines (Satsuma). How do I know when the fruit is ripe and ready to pick? They are beginning to turn orange but are getting a baggy look.
Clay at New Heights Tree Service
Its still early! However, the baggy look could very well be from lack of sufficient water. Even with the recent rain, if you did not water manually throughout the summer, this could have a lot to do with it. Also nitrogen is huge, home depot sells a spike for fruit trees that could help with next years yield. I suggest you water heavily (1 minute per inch in trunk diameter with hose on high, directly within the drip-line) twice a week, for a few weeks and then taste one. If it is sweet and juicy then pick them, if not Repeat this process.
|
John R. in Garden Ridge
Deer killed my oaks |
We had three young oaks in our front yard. We lost them last Fall because bucks rubbed their antlers against the trunks and tore off the outer bark. Later I noticed that some of our neighbors have protected their smaller oaks by wrapping chicken wire around the trunks. It appears to be working because they didn't lose their trees.
Clay at New Heights Tree Service
Bucks love an oak with a trunk 2 to 3 inches in diameter because it is small enough to fit into the smaller curves of their antlers. They rub to get rid of the velvet on new antlers, shredding the bark and cutting off the tree's ability to move moisture and nutrients upward. A wrapping of several layers of chicken wire should extend at least 6 feet up the trunk. It also works to place some protective stakes around the trunk. The anti-deer devices can be removed when the trunk grows to about 4 inches in diameter.
|
Susan B. in Bulverde
Worried about oak wilt disease |
I know some areas in our part of Texas already have oak wilt which is wiping out a lot of trees. Is there a way to cure it once it has attacked a tree?
Clay at New Heights Tree Service
Oak Wilt can be prevented from spreading, but a tree already infected cannot be cured. There is a pretty thorough USDA paper on Oak Wilt prepared by the U.S. Forest Service HERE
|
Ash tree pruning
Eloy C. in Medina |
I don't know exactly what kind of tree is in my front yard but people tell me it is an ash. What I want to know is do I have to put that black stuff on the cut when I prune off a limb? Thanks.
Clay at New Heights Tree Service
Oaks need to be dressed. Others varieties don't. Putting the black stuff on a cut limb is a protection against infection by oak wilt disease.
|
|
