Tag: Oak
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What are those strange growths on tree leaves?
Leaf Galls and Wasps The strange growths on the back of the leaves, such as those picture below, are known as leaf galls. Galls are formed when a wasp lays an egg. Along with the egg(s), the wasp secrets a growth regulating chemical which causes the leaf or stem to swell. The resulting swelling is…
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The Five Best Shade Trees for North Texas
Trees add value to any landscape. They offer shade in the hot summer months and can significantly lower your air conditioning bills. And as any homeowner or business owner in North Texas knows, that can mean hundreds of dollars in savings over the summer. Scott Geer, Master Arborist at Tree Shepherds, recommends planting cedar Elms,…
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What’s Happening to My Live Oak Trees?
This spring (2020) has seen almost every Live Oak in Denton County infected with a disease call Oak Anthracnose. This sound like a terrible disease, but it is really just a nuisance for the trees. This is a fungal disease and affects the leaves only on Live Oaks. The infected leaves turn brown and curl…
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Beautiful Post Oak in Flower Mound
Sometimes developers, the city, and the homeowners get it right. This park is just south of 1171 on Regency Park Court. The “Lone Tree” is a gorgeous Post oak that was spared and became the focal point of this park. The tree is 32.1 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) and has a great crown…
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Brown Bumps On My Oak Twigs?
What are those little brown humps that cover my oak twigs? These are lecanium scale insects. The lecanium scale can be debilitating to the host plant, rarely killing it. The insect draws sap from the tree, thus reducing the tree’s resources. A heavy infestation can stress a tree greatly and may cause thinning of the…
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What’s that “White Fungus” on My Post Oaks?
As we get into August this year, the post oaks in Denton County are showing a lot of white on their leaves. This is not a fungus or serious disease but is “wool” that is produced by a small sucking insect called an Aphid. The aphid produces the “cotton” or “wool” as protective covering and…
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Oak Tassels – what are those worms on my driveway?
Newly emerging leaves on a red oak in the spring with male flowers This spring season has brought with it an abundance of oak flowers or “tassels.” I have noticed it on all of the oak species: live oak, post oak, blackjack oak, shumard (red) oak, etc. They all have a bumper crop of male…