In this Houston Chronicle article, Matt Petty from Davey’s South Houston office talks about the effects of drought and harsh weather on trees.  

Posted: November 07, 2022

Area trees hadn’t recovered from the 2021 freeze when the drought hit this summer. Picture of trees in fall.

The Davey Tree Expert Company’s Matt Petty, who has been an arborist for 15 years, said there had been a noticeable rise in trees with fatal issues. Petty calls it a delayed response to the freeze exacerbated by the drought and recommends a professional checkup before winter comes. 

“Many of the dying trees obviously look weak and sick, but then there are those we call ‘zombie’ trees,'” said Petty. “These have green canopies but carry pathogens and have underlying health concerns that don’t seem obvious until it’s too late and the tree has fallen and caused property damage.” 

To read the rest of Matt’s comments, click here.  

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