TYLER (KYTX) - If you've looked around East Texas lately, you'll see many trees turning brown.
It's the Oak Trees taking a huge hit this summer. With the absence of water, brown leaves and cracked bark are unfortunately what we're seeing across East Texas.
John Willis explains, the heat is to blame, but it's not the biggest factor. It's the lack of water.
"The fact that we haven't gotten any rain is probably more harmful to them than the heat itself."
A lack of rain dehydrates the trees and causes toxins to build up around them. There are ways to know if your trees are suffering.
Leaves falling off the tree is a good thing, but if the leaves turn brown and do not fall, that's a bad sign.
James Wilhite of Wilhite Landscaping says, "A combination of heat and lack of water, they're just not much the trees can do to keep up with that."
He says the only thing you can do to help them is add water.
"You just want to make certain that its well watered periodically, and by well watered I mean watered deeply."
Willis says that usually comes with the rain.
"The deep watering and that's what we missed this spring and so far this summer, that good hard, soaking soaking rain."
The best bet for the oak trees? a big boost from mother nature.
Willis says, "Relief from the heat and some good natural rain would help us as well."
Even with some help, the effects of this heat and drought could be seen for a long time.
WIlhite says, "Even if it starts raining tomorrow, were going to see effects from that for the next 5 years on some of our larger trees."
Just like everyone else in East Texas, the trees are waiting for some rain.
Experts also say the large Oak Trees can add tens of thousands of dollars to the worth of your landscape, so it's important to try keep them hydrated.
