Lichen on Houston oak bark is harmless to the tree, but a sudden spread of it can point to a thinning canopy overhead.
The gray-green crusty or leafy growth is a partnership between a fungus and an alga that lives on the bark without taking anything from the tree. Because lichen thrives in sunlight, heavy new growth along upper branches can mean more light is reaching the bark as the canopy thins from root stress, summer drought damage, or early decline.
Scrubbing or spraying lichen off does nothing for the tree and can harm the bark. Champions Tree Preservation's certified arborists look at the canopy, root zone, and overall vigor to find what is really going on.
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Real close-up photo of gray-green lichen on the bark of a Houston oak, ideally paired with a wide shot of the canopy above it. Avoid stock imagery.
Canva text suggestion: "Lichen Isn't the Problem, Look Up" or "What the Bark Tells You About the Canopy"