Sam Hill Tree Care

Happy New Year! From all of us at Sam Hill Tree Care, we hope this year is filled with great things for you and yours.

This season, bring the beauty of the outdoors inside with natural holiday decor. Pinecones, berried sprigs of yaupon or possumhaw holly, and naturally green branches of juniper or cedar all bring quiet, seasonal color that already belongs in our landscapes.

Dried grasses, seed pods, and sculptural oak or cedar elm branches add shape and texture that store-bought décor can’t quite match. A few thoughtful clippings are often all it takes to give your home a calm, wintery feel that stays rooted in the outdoors.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we want to express our sincere gratitude to you, our clients, for trusting us with the care of your trees. It’s a privilege to help you protect and improve your landscapes throughout the year.

We are also deeply appreciative of our team, and to give them time with their families, our office will be closed on November 27th and 28th. We will be monitoring our messages in case of emergencies; for non-urgent needs, please use our contact form and we will respond once regular hours resume. You can fill out the contact form here: https://samhilltreecare.com/contact-us

For 30 years, the ANSI A300 standards have turned tree work into a consistent, science-based profession—driving better pruning, planting, risk assessment and PHC, and giving clients safer, more predictable results. As chair of the A300 committee, Sam Hill helps lead the ongoing revisions that keep the standards practical and up-to-date with the latest innovations.

If you’re wondering how these standards raise the bar for professional tree care, this 30th-anniversary look at the A300 is worth a read: https://tcimag.tcia.org/training/arboriculture-best-practices/lets-recognize-the-30th-anniversary-of-ansi-a300/

Let’s Recognize the 30th Anniversary of ANSI A300 This year, 2025, marks 30 years since “ANSI A300 Part 1, Pruning” was published. Where would the industry be without this guidance? Photo 1: Topping of trees was common practice in utility, municipal and residential settings. Photo courtesy of the author. Prior to 1995,

This crazy warm weather might lull us into a false sense of security, but according to the National Weather Service, North Texas typically sees its first freeze around November 22. Get ahead of the coming cold snaps by moving tender citrus and potted plants into the garage or greenhouse. Tender vegetation in the ground will need protection when a freeze is in the forecast.

Ahead of a hard freeze, water the soil a day or two prior to insulate against the cold. If possible, maintain 2–3 inches of organic mulch (kept off stems/root flare), and cover vulnerable plants with frost cloth the night of the freeze.

Thinking about cutting roots for new construction, to remove surface roots, or before a transplant? Think again! Most tree roots are actually quite shallow, sitting only 1.5–2 ft. beneath the surface. Aggressively pruning the roots or pruning them too close to the trunk may loosen the root plate and compromise the tree’s stability.

Trees are opportunistic and will spread their roots where conditions are favorable. The only way to truly know where roots are is to carefully excavate. Don't assume!

Younger trees or more tolerant species can usually handle some light root pruning, but even these should be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Consider all your options and explore work-arounds first. If root pruning is unavoidable, consult a certified arborist to determine the best way to go about it. Your trees will thank you!

Texas Arbor Day is here, and with it the fall planting season has officially begun!

Although most of the country celebrates Arbor Day in April, we celebrate Texas Arbor Day on the first Friday of November. The cooler temperatures give new trees a better chance to get established before the scorching heat of the summer.

Looking to add some new green to your landscape? Sam Hill Tree Care offers concierge planting services. We'll help you pick the right tree for your site and your planting goals. Learn more at https://samhilltreecare.com/services/planting

Here’s a fun fact to round out Oaktober: ever wonder why Oak Cliff is called “Oak Cliff?” Long before Bishop Arts, the area was a small farming community called Hord’s Ridge. In 1887, developers John S. Armstrong and Thomas L. Marsalis bought the land on the south bank of the Trinity River and rebranded the neighborhood Oak Cliff—a nod to the massive oaks perched atop the green bluffs overlooking Dallas.

In fact, the original township of Oak Cliff was officially established on October 31, 1887, meaning today marks the 138th anniversary of this historic Dallas neighborhood. Happy birthday, Oak Cliff!



Photo courtesy of DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University

Tonight is employee appreciation night at Sam Hill Tree Care, and we’re trading chainsaws for jump shots! We’re proud of our team of sales arborists, production crews, and office staff. They work hard to deliver top-notch service each and every day, and they deserve a night of fun. So we’re taking the whole crew to watch the Mavs vs. Wizards game at the American Airlines Center. Go Mavs!

Oaktober check-up: seeing these black, tar-like spots on your oak trees? This is tar spot, a seasonal leaf disease that tends to appear late summer into fall. It is especially common on live oaks. It looks dramatic, but on established trees it’s usually cosmetic, so we rarely recommend treatment.

In heavier years, some early leaf drop can happen, most often when trees are already stressed. Maintain good cultural practices—appropriate watering, pruning, etc.—and rake the afflicted leaves if you want to reduce next year’s spots. Here’s a quick overview from Texas A&M AgriLife’s Daphne Richards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y3Wvh-rXko

We don’t often think of wood as an ingredient, but it’s an essential part of your favorite nightcap. 🥃🍷

We age wine, whiskey, and many other spirits in oak because the barrel is an ingredient unto itself, not just a container. Before the barrels are filled, the inside is toasted or charred, unlocking lots of familiar flavors: vanillin (vanilla), oak lactones (coconut/woody notes), caramelized sugars (toffee/caramel), plus gentle tannins for body.

Time and physics do the rest. Oak is porous, so the liquid moves in and out of the staves with daily temperature swings, gradually absorbing those flavors and smoothing rough edges over many months or even years. The next time you note that hint of vanilla or woody spice in your glass, remember: that’s the trees talking.

Thanks SFA Gardens! We love being a part of your outstanding program!

Sam Hill Tree Care workshop and our Urban forestry students learning from a great company.