Drought

Paul and I attended a program put on by the UT Tree Arboridum Club, which we are members, about the affects of last years drought on our trees. The speaker was a professor from UT who specializes in researching how stress affects hardwood plants and trees. She showed charts depicting the rain amounts over the past 100 years. The last low percipitation date was during the Dust Bowl years of the 1920-30s. She then drew our attention the last years drought mark. It was off the chart. Last year's drought was the worse it has ever been since weather tracking began. The big surprise of the evening was that the Easter severe Freeze did more damage to our trees then the drought. She said three events could give many trees the "strike your out" blow. The drought, the freeze, and deer and bug populations. These populations were desperate for food and dined heavily on any available green. To check for freeze damage on your tree, look at the bark near the base of the tree. If it is soft, falling off, or can be peeled back, your tree is in danger or is dead.....
sigh