All life functions must occur within a cell.  This microscopic structure is filled with organelles and tunnels and performs manufacturing of everything needed for life on an unimaginable scale at speeds that cannot be comprehended.

The debate over ball moss has stressed marriages, destroyed friendships, and caused heated debates between professionals. Many observers are absolutely certain they have seen ball moss kill branches and trees. Others point to the ball moss growing on an outside wire and swear it can do no harm.

Barricades or fencing should be installed around the trees near the drip line before any equipment has access to the property.

For the first half of my career, I fertilized or recommended fertilization for every tree in my care on an annual programmed schedule.

When you plant, it would be good to have a landscape plan and to plant your trees and shrubs according to that plan. It is best to place trees and shrubs so they can develop without crowding each other, structures, or utility lines.

PRUNING, when properly performed, is beneficial and can reduce the risk of stem and branch failure; provide clearance for structures, vehicles, and pedestrians; improve health and appearance; and improve views. 

Recommended small to medium sized trees, native or perform like native

The most likely cause of tree problems in the urban setting in our area is buried root collars. I seldom have a day in which I do not diagnose a root collar disorder.

Purpose: To provide air, water and fertilizing ports in the root area of trees that have paving over their root zones. Their main value is to vent toxic gases to the surface and to allow oxygen to enter the soil under the paving. Their secondary value is for water and fertilization. Fertilizer should be applied through the vents annually.

Shella McBride and David Appel in their article on Hypoxylon Canker for AgriLife Extension state that once Hypoxylon Canker is evident, it is usually too late to save the tree.  The Arborlogical Services web site says that it is extremely rare to see Hypoxylon Canker on the trunk of a tree and have the tree recover or survive.  The Hypoxylon Canker article on the Texas Forest Service web site is even direr.  It says that once the tree is actively infected, the tree will die. It also says that there is no known cure.

At the 2015 ITC in Orlando Florida, the last talk of the conference was by Dr. Glynn Percival on Systemically Induced Resistance (SIR).  He reported on his research using the fungus Trichoderma to successfully treat Apple Scab and Armillaria spp. in Great Britain.

Oak wilt is a vascular wilt disease caused by a fungus that infects the water-conducting tissues of oak trees and causes them to wilt and die. Good health does not improve resistance to this disease.

Soil is more than sand, silt, and clay with some small amount of organic matter.  You may have 3 inches of clay over caliche, or 12 inches of blackland clay, or 5 feet of sand over hardpan. Whatever you have, soil is teaming with life.

Endophytic (Endo-within, phytic-plant) bacteria are bacteria that live for a time within the plant without causing harm or any symptoms of plant response.

Our client asked what it would cost to remove the tree and was amazed when we told her we could save it and that the wound would be covered in a year.