When the late summer heat in Texas soars past 100 degrees, it’s not just people and pets that suffer – your property can be at risk too. Dead or dying trees are especially vulnerable during extreme heat, and leaving them standing can create serious hazards for your home, vehicles, and loved ones.
Why Does Heat Makes Dead Trees More Dangerous?
Structural Weakness Gets Worse
Dead trees are already brittle, but intense heat dries out the remaining wood even more, making limbs more likely to crack or snap without warning.
High Winds + Weak Wood = Breakage
Hot summer afternoons often come with gusty winds or sudden storms. A dead limb that’s been baking in 103° heat all day can break far more easily, even in a light breeze.
Fire Hazard
Dead wood in extreme heat becomes tinder-dry – perfect fuel if a grassfire, lightning strike, or even a stray spark comes nearby.
Pest Attraction
Heat accelerates the spread of insects like termites, carpenter ants, even fire ants which can migrate from the dead tree into nearby healthy trees – or even into your home.
Signs Your Tree Needs Immediate Removal
- Bark peeling or chunks of bark falling off in large sections.
- Hollow or soft spots in the trunk.
- Large dead limbs or no leaves, no foliage at all.
- Fungal growth or deep cracks in the wood.
- Leaning toward your home, your neighbor’s home, your driveway, over a city street, or power lines.
Don’t Wait Until It Falls
Once a tree is dead, the risk only grows with every day of heat. Waiting until it comes down on its own could mean thousands of dollars in property damage – or worse, injury to someone on your property.
Thornton’s Tree Service Can Help – Fast!
Our team is on call to safely remove dead or hazardous trees before they cause damage. We bring professional equipment, trained crews, and years of experience in Texas’s toughest summer conditions.
📞 Call us today for a free estimate. Let’s get that dead tree down before the heat takes it down for you.
