03/04/2021
Live oaks all over Texas look like this in the wake of the extreme cold temps during the winter storm. Expect the leaves to drop quickly this month, and hope that new ones show up. Some experts such as Neil Sperry say they’ll be fine, which is true IF the tissue damage is only in the leaves and twigs. But other DFW tree experts recall huge losses in 1983 when December temps hovered around 5 degrees for a spell, and freeze damage affected not only leaves and twigs, but the TRUNKS of the trees. We cannot detect trunk damage until the bark begins to separate from the tree in the summer. We are monitoring the situation, will know a lot more in a month or so, and meanwhile there’s not a lot you can do. What you CAN do is beware of any tree companies trying to sell you a fix this soon, or proclaiming it dead and trying to sell you a removal this soon. In most cases, it’s still too early to tell the best course of action. We do expect heavy losses in North Central Texas, but wait it out for now.