Tyler Storm Season Prep: 3 Trees That Will Break First

In East Texas, we have two main storm seasons: the spring thunderstorms (hail, tornadoes, high winds) and the winter ice storms.

Every year, after the clouds clear, we drive around Tyler and see the exact same types of trees lying on roofs, fences, and power lines. It’s not random. Some trees are biologically weaker than others.

If you have one of these 3 offenders in your yard, you need to be extra vigilant.

1. The Bradford Pear (The #1 Offender)

This is the most notorious tree in suburbia. Planted everywhere in the 90s for its white flowers, the Bradford Pear is structurally doomed from the start.

• The Flaw: They grow with "co-dominant stems"—meaning all the heavy branches grow out of a single point on the trunk, like a bouquet. This creates a weak "V-crotch."
• The Result: As the tree gets heavy, gravity wins. In high winds or ice, the tree literally splits in half. We call it "peeling the banana."
• Advice: If you have a large Bradford Pear near your driveway or house, remove it before it removes itself.

2. The Silver Maple

Silver Maples grow incredibly fast. That's why developers love them. But fast growth means soft, brittle wood.

• The Flaw: Their wood is not dense enough to support their massive, sprawling limbs during an ice storm. They are also prone to internal rot that you can't see from the ground.
• The Result: They tend to drop massive limbs (widowmakers) rather than falling over completely.
• Advice: Aggressive weight reduction (trimming) every 2-3 years is mandatory to keep these safe.

3. The Hackberry

You probably didn't plant this one. Birds planted it. Hackberries are "weed trees" that grow anywhere.

• The Flaw: They have shallow root systems and wood that rots easily. They are also magnets for mistletoe, which adds winter weight to the branches.
• The Result: They are highly susceptible to uprooting in saturated soil (windthrow).
• Advice: Don't let them grow large near your home. They offer little value and high risk.

What About Pines and Oaks?

• Pines: Generally strong, but can snap if compromised by beetles.
• Oaks: Our native Post Oaks and Live Oaks are the warriors of the storm. They rarely fail unless they are diseased (Hypoxylon) or have had their roots cut.

Preparation Checklist

Don't wait for the tornado siren.

1. Look Up: Do you see dead branches hanging? (We call these "hangers").
2. Look Down: Are there mushrooms at the base? (Root rot).
3. Look Inside: Can you see daylight through the canopy? If not, the tree might be too dense (a "sail") and needs thinning to let wind pass through.

Peace of Mind is Cheap. An emergency removal at 2 AM on a Sunday costs 3x more than a scheduled removal on a Tuesday.