The impact of the 2011 record drought in Texas is still being felt and some areas have seen little relief.
Texas AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a tree health program from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 17 in the meeting room on the third floor of the Nolan County Courthouse in Sweetwater.
In addition to the billions of dollars in crop and livestock losses in Texas, landscapes also have been heavily damaged. Much of that is now being witnessed.
Zachary Wilcox, Nolan County AgriLife Extension agent, says the program's main objective will be to determine what, if anything can be done with the many landscape trees affected by last year's record heat and drought. Many have seen little relief in 2012, and may be too damaged to survive.
TANKS ARE LOW. Some trees have died and many stock tanks remain low of water for livestock from the impact of the 2011 drought, with only scattered relief seen so far in 2012.
"I've looked at a number of trees this spring at the request of concerned property owners," Wilcox says. "Many trees here in town are completely dead. There are also those that have dead limbs or that have suffered some top-kill.
"By conducting this program, we will try to shine some light on the reason for the tree die-off, explore ways to salvage those trees that are not completely dead, and look at strategies to protect landscape trees in the future."
Wilcox says Jim Houser, Texas Forest Service's regional forest health coordinator at Austin, will present the program and be available to answer questions.
Individual registration is just $10 and is payable at the door.
For more information, you can contact Wilcox at 325-236-6912, or by Email to s-wilcox@tamu.edu.
The Texas weather has offered little relief, with most areas of the state windy and hot as a firecracker during the Fourth of July holiday period. Many areas were about 100 degrees or more to start July.
In Central Texas, the heat index was extremely high and stock tanks for livestock already were beginning to dry up—a sad flashback to memories of the 2011 summer.