How Houston's Humidity Affects Tree Health
Houston humidity is something you know almost immediately.
You step outside in the morning, your shirt is already damp, the grass is wet even if it did
not rain, your fence is damp, and the dirt near your trees is soft.
By the afternoon the heat intensifies and everything outside feels like its soaked up
moisture.
It sounds normal.
It is normal to a degree.
But it can be incredibly taxing on your trees.
A healthy tree handles humidity with ease.
The issue comes when humidity lingers on a tree that already has other issues.
Poor drainage
shallow roots
old storm damage
poor trimming
disease
saturation of the soil
can cause small problems to turn into big ones.
Most homeowners won't notice it at first,the tree just appears to be in poor health, maybe with a few bare spots on the leaves.
As long as it's not interfering with power lines, branches, cars, or anything else, most
people will put it off.
That is until hurricane season rolls around and a once seemingly harmless tree takes on an
ominous presence.
A tree on a Houston homeowner's property that appears to be struggling during periods of
humidity should be taken seriously.
How Houston's Humidity Affects Tree Health
Houston's humidity plays a role in how much moisture clings to your trees.
After rainfall, the leaves, bark, branches, and surrounding soil absorb water and retains it
well into the afternoon, especially if the air holds moisture.
This is bad news for trees.
It provides the perfect breeding grounds for fungus, decay, and puts unnecessary stress on
the roots.
Trees need water, but anything beyond that is just stagnating the soil and putting the tree's
roots in danger.
This is especially true for Houston homeowners with poor drainage issues, or low laying
areas that tend to collect water after a storm.
Trees that have appeared to be healthy for years can, after a season of wet weather, begin to
show signs of stress.
While not exclusively caused by humidity, it is often the catalyst that brings existing issues
to light.
Fungus Near The Base Of A Tree Is A Red Flag
Mushrooms are often the first sign that a tree is unhealthy.
It's not abnormal to find them growing in the grass.
What is abnormal is finding them growing from the base of your tree, along it's roots, or on
the lower trunk.
It could be a sign of internal decay.
The worst part about decay is it's often hidden from view, and a tree can often appear to be
healthy with full leaves and branches.
It still may be a potential safety hazard if the tree is located near a house, driveway, fence,
pool, or garage. If you notice mushrooms growing near the base of your tree, and the tree
shows additional signs of stress such as dead limbs, cracks, or thinning leaves, it should be
inspected.
You can read more about those tell tale signs of a tree in distress in our article about
Saturation Of The Soil Around The Roots Can Weaken A Tree
Soil saturation holds water where it's supposed to be... the soil.
After rain has stopped and the sky is clear, two days later you find the ground near your
fence to still be soggy, and low laying areas to still be muddy.
That's the kind of soil conditions that can cause trees to weaken, lean, and fail.
The root systems of trees provide stability.
If those systems are compromised, the tree becomes a potential safety hazard, especially
during a storm.
Weaker roots are the result of poor soil quality or poor drainage.
Trees in these conditions can lean unexpectedly, especially after a period of heavy rain.
If you notice a leaning tree after a storm, you can read more about it and what it means in
Houston's Humidity Can Aggravate Existing Tree Conditions
By itself, humidity will not destroy a healthy tree, but it can aggravate existing conditions.
A tree that has seen better days because of drought, improper pruning, construction
damage, root compaction, or old storm damage, will not respond positively to humidity
either.
This is why two trees of the same species will look and act differently despite being in the
same yard. One appears to be healthy while the other is drooping with dead limbs and bare
branches.
While they may have both endured similar weather conditions, one had better root systems,
or more protection from the elements, or it simply had more time to recover.
Tree health is rarely an isolated incident.
It's a combination of environmental factors, age, species, root health, pruning, insects,
disease, and proper maintenance.
That's why a tree assessment in Houston can be so important when it comes to diagnosing
the issue.
How To Know When Your Tree Needs Help
Most homeowners are able to detect something being wrong with a tree.
It doesn't always mean they know what is wrong, but they can usually tell when something
is off.
It may look like the tree has become thinner, the leaves are dying earlier in the year, or one
side has gone completely bare.
It could also be the tree losing it's branches at the top, or peeling bark.
It could even be a soft spot near the trunk.
These are all red flags, and should be taken seriously.
Especially when they appear in conjunction with one another.
Fungus around the base of your tree, dead limbs, bare branches, cracks, lifting soil, dying
sections of branches, or sudden limb loss are all signs that something is wrong.
One symptom may not mean much on it's own, but two or more are almost certainly an
issue.
This is particularly true in the months leading up to hurricane season.
Large Trees In Houston Deserve Extra Attention
Large trees are a common sight in Houston.
Live oaks, water oaks, pecan trees, pines, and other species dot the landscape of Houston's
older neighborhoods.
They're tall, healthy, and provide a nice shade over many suburban yards.
When a large tree begins to fail, however, it can lead to dangerous situations.
It can also mean a potentially hazardous cleanup process.
A tree in the back corner of your yard is one thing, but a large, mature shade tree looming
over your roof is something else entirely.
While humidity isn't necessarily a threat to large trees, it can certainly contribute to root
stress, fungus, decay, and weak limb retention in an already compromised tree. If a large
tree is displaying signs of stress, such as dead limbs, fungus, and old storm damage, it
should be taken seriously before the next storm rolls through.
Proper trimming and pruning can help large trees retain structural integrity when they are
still healthy enough to do so.
You can read more about the importance of trimming and pruning in Houston in our
Improper Trimming Can Lead To More Problems
A tree that has been improperly trimmed is a tree with weakened spots waiting to happen.
Large wounds should be avoided at all costs.
Topping a tree is never a good idea.
And removing too much of a canopy at once can shock a tree and cause unnecessary stress.
Then Houston humidity climbs in, and sets up housekeeping.
Decay will likely follow in time.
New, poorly structured branches will grow in it's place.
Never approach tree trimming as a haphazard process.
It should always be approached as an opportunity to improve the health, safety, and
appearance of a tree.
Houston's Humidity Before Hurricane Season
A lot of Houstonians think about their trees when hurricane season rolls around.
That's not a bad thing.
In fact, it's a good thing.
The better time to think about your trees, however, is before a storm is even on the horizon.
If something is bothering your trees during humid periods, it's going to be exacerbated by
hurricane season.
Decay, fungus, cracks, leans, and bare spots should be addressed well in advance.
When a storm is approaching, everyone wants to schedule a service call.
This causes long wait times for everyone, and rushed decisions by homeowners who might
not have taken the time to do their due diligence otherwise.
If you're preparing your yard for hurricane season, you can read more about how to do so
in our article, how to prepare trees for hurricane season in Houston.
What Houston Homeowners Can Do
You don't have to inspect your trees like an arborist does, but you should be looking for the
major signs of distress.
After rainfall has soaked the ground, take a stroll around your yard and look at the base of
your trees.
Look for standing water, soft spots, or areas of the soil that stay muddy for an extended
period of time.
Look at the trunk of the tree for cracks, peeling bark, holes, or wet spots.
Then take a look up and into the canopy of the tree.
Look for dead limbs, bare areas, and branches that appear to sag or droop.
Take pictures if you see anything abnormal, as it will help you more accurately assess the
tree at a later date.
If the tree continues to look worse, contact us before it becomes an emergency.
Additional Resources For Houston Homeowners
For information on tree health, diseases, and drought management, Texas A and M's forest
service has a comprehensive page on tree health.
For information on Houston's climate, the National Weather Service Houston has a climate
summary.
Houston Humidity And Tree Health FAQ
Can humidity damage trees in Houston?
Humidity on it's own does not damage a healthy tree. It is the combination of humidity with
other factors like fungus, disease, poor drainage, shallow roots, and old storm damage that
can cause problems.
Why are mushrooms growing near my tree?
Mushrooms are often a sign of increased moisture, which can be both a good and a bad
thing. If you are seeing mushrooms growing from the base of your tree, or along it's roots,
it could be a sign of internal decay.
Can wet soil make a tree fall?
Yes. If the tree has poor root structure, or existing root damage, it can compromise a tree's
ability to remain upright.
What are signs of root problems?
Leans, soil lifting, fungus growing from the roots or base of the tree, thinning canopy,
stunted growth, and dead sections of branches are all signs of potential root problems.
Should I trim trees during humid weather?
Trimming can be detrimental to a tree if it isn't done correctly. Always consult with a
professional before making any decisions.
Should trees be inspected before hurricane season?
Trees that pose a potential threat to power lines, homes, cars, and other objects should
always be inspected before hurricane season rolls around, especially if they appear to be
under duress.
Final Notes About Houston Humidity And Tree Health From Our Team Here In
Houston
Humidity is a part of life in Houston.
Your trees are used to it, but that does not mean they thrive in it.
When humidity combines with rain, drainage issues, heat, disease, shallow roots, or old
storm damage, trees often begin to show signs of distress.
The earlier a tree is diagnosed, the earlier it can be treated.
Look for signs of fungus, dead limbs, thinning canopies, soft soil, cracks, leans, or unusual
bark. If it doesn't look right, it probably isn't right.
Sometimes a tree simply needs to be trimmed.
Sometimes it needs to be pruned.
Sometimes it needs to be treated.
Sometimes it needs to be removed completely.
If you feel like you need help with a tree on your Houston property, we're here to help.
Feel free to give us a call today, and we'll help keep your trees healthy and thriving in
Houston weather.
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