Live oaks look tough, and mostly they are, but San Antonio's summer stretch of triple-digit days combined with thin caliche soil puts real stress on even mature trees. Leaf scorch, early leaf drop, and thinning canopies are showing up on properties across the city right now.
A stressed tree does not always look sick at first glance. Sometimes it is a slight change in leaf color, a branch that is bare a little earlier than the rest, or a canopy that just looks thinner than it did last summer. Those are the early signs worth paying attention to.
Watering deeply and infrequently, rather than a quick daily sprinkle, does more for root health in caliche soil. A tree under heat stress is also more vulnerable to disease and pests it could otherwise fight off on its own.
Have you noticed any of your live oaks or red oaks looking a little thinner or duller than usual this summer?
#SanAntonioArborist
A real photo showing canopy stress on a San Antonio property (thinning leaves, early leaf drop, or a technician inspecting a live oak) will resonate more than a generic sunny-day tree photo.
Canva text suggestion: "Is the Heat Stressing Your Trees?" or "Thin Canopy This Summer? Here's Why"