An article about a tree on my campus

Tom Dunlap

Tom Dunlap

Here from the beginning
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Retired in Minneapolis
The reporter did a very good job of taking an hour of discussion into the article.

St.Edward's Univ.-Oak decline




One thing that I forgot to tell her was that Keith Brown, Austin Tree Experts, has donated two years of fertilizing to the University. They're going to have to set their injectors DEEP since there is a 6-15" thick layer of roadbase material on top of the natural soil grade. This cannot be good for the tree. Adding tightly woven landscape fabric on top of the roadbase has kept the soil too moist. After talking with several arbos we agree that this is likely the event that started the tree's decline.
 
Very cool Tom...

Your work has created the double effect of hopefully helping the tree, as well as raising students' awareness about trees in general...that must feel like a job well done...
 
Tom, you've posted on this tree before and from my 2 dimensional POV it looks really bad. Do you feel that this tree is really going to make it? I'm not trying to cast doubt. My experience with live oaks is zero (although i have seen them on one road trip).

Robert brings up a good point. Perhaps in situations like these, even if we know the tree is likely not going to make it, the attempt at saving it brings great publicity and gets people thinking about proactive tree care. I'm sure this tree would be easy to keep healthy if you got there before the construction.

I'm very curious to see the tree's progress over the next few years.
 
The beauty and joy of working in a non-commercial situation is that my work isn't profit driven. I can revisit all of my work within a couple of hours if I walked. Progress, or regress, can be monitored daily. This gives me the luxury of doing some things that might not be considered in the commercial world unless a client has a blank check.

My experience with live oaks is not very extensive either. As I was making decisions about the tree I called in other local arbos who have many years of experience. There is more optimism from the arbos than some others. Live oak is one of the toughest trees around. There are lots of old snaggly ones with huge decay pockets that terrified me for the first year. Now, I'm aware, but not as scared of them failing.

You're right, there is a huge benefit to using the tree as an example. My first goal is to make sure that I'm more involved in any other tree related decisions on campus. No one will ever know if the tree could have been saved. On the other hand, we all agree that it would have stood a much better chance of looking better than it does now if the tree's needs would have had a Lorax around. Every window on the two sides of the tree has a Lorax sitting at a desk. many of them came out asking if the tree was being cut down. The change in their faces after they learn what is being tried is precious. If that could be bottled I'd be rich!

After the trees go through leaf drop and spring growth another assessment will be made. I have a pretty good idea of how much might have to be pruned. There are a scattering of 2-3" limbs that might not releaf.
 
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Every window on the two sides of the tree has a Lorax sitting at a desk. many of them came out asking if the tree was being cut down. The change in their faces after they learn what is being tried is precious. If that could be bottled I'd be rich!

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That'a a good one Tom, I love it!

Excellent article as well. Please continue to keep us posted on this tree.
 
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The reporter did a very good job of taking an hour of discussion into the article.

St.Edward's Univ.-Oak decline




One thing that I forgot to tell her was that Keith Brown, Austin Tree Experts, has donated two years of fertilizing to the University. They're going to have to set their injectors DEEP since there is a 6-15" thick layer of roadbase material on top of the natural soil grade. This cannot be good for the tree. Adding tightly woven landscape fabric on top of the roadbase has kept the soil too moist. After talking with several arbos we agree that this is likely the event that started the tree's decline.

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Tom ...

It reminds me of old Civil War battles and the decision to cut off a leg or arm to stop gangrene.

That much fill almost always dooms a tree out here.

One can nurse a tree like that for 30 years, and in 30 years end up with a blank slate.

One can also replant in that spot right now, and in 30 years, have 30 year's worth of canopy growth.

Ever thought about planting a companion tree near it just in case?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Live oak is one of the toughest trees around. There are lots of old snaggly ones with huge decay pockets that terrified me for the first year. Now, I'm aware, but not as scared of them failing.

[/ QUOTE ]

On my uncle's tree farm in northern Florida, there are ancient live oaks scattered throughout the property, now hedged in with slash and loblolly pine. I am equally awed by the living specimens, as well as the dead ones. One of the dead ones has been standing for the extent of my living memory - almost 3 decades - with no bark. It has been stone dead for a loooong time. It drops a limb now and again, but the major framework of the crown is still standing. It looks kind of like a skeleton on the horizon. How in the world this tree has managed to stay dead and upright at the same time all these years is truly mind-boggling. Must be the genes.

This particular dead tree's neighbor is alive, and huge. Probably only 60' high, but it's crown shades roughly 3000 square feet of ground. I'm bringing diameter tape next time to measure it's Subaru sized dbh. I've climbed it twice. It's unbelievable how these trees can support the thousands of pounds in their lateral branches.

They are strong, tough trees indeed.
 
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