Q: I’ve lost large chunks of bark off my Mexican white oak in just six weeks. It is without leaves. It’s a great shade tree on the west side of my kitchen. What might have caused that? A: It's a bit ...

SAN ANTONIO – Oak trees are the backbone of South Central Texas. Hardy, evergreen and beautiful, oak trees can also provide plenty of shade. But neighborhoods like Live Oak, Shavano Park, Hollywood ...

Waiting until the leaves drop in fall is a rule of thumb for pruning shade trees, mainly because you can see bare limbs better, and the job is less “messy” without leaves attached to the cut branches.

November through February is the best time to plant hardy trees, shrubs, ground covers and vines. If you have been thinking about adding a shade tree to your landscape, now is a great time to do it.