Many landowners are probably asking "Will my tree make it?" after this year's brutal drought, the driest and second hottest on record. In addition to the tree identification guide mentioned in the last post, the Texas Forest Service recently came out with an easy way of determining whether your shade trees either went into dormancy early or are on their way out (of course this doesn't matter right now since we are in the middle of winter, but something to keep in mind for the future).They suggest grouping your trees into 3 different categories: Definitely Dead, Likely to Live, or Questionable
Pine trees are easier to assess than shade trees because a normally thick, green crown is replaced by red or brown needles indicating stress or mortality. Shade trees, such as oaks and hickories, may be more difficult since they can drop their leaves early and go into dormancy as an act of self preservation.
For a thorough description of the categories to see where your trees are, go to the Texas Forest Service website.
Also available from the Texas Forest Service is a video explaining easy tips of how to water your trees during drought.