Saving a 200-year-old oak in Morgan City

(Editor’s note: Deborah Price of Morgan City’s The Frame Shop submitted this story about efforts to save an ancient oak damaged in a recent storm.)
On the corner of Railroad and Federal avenues in Morgan City stands a mighty oak, sentinel over that patch of ground for 200+ years. She stands tall and proud, sometimes a little worn, yet her resilience and will to survive is remarkable!
This corner is one of the busiest crossroads in the city, and “Elise” is a symbol of protection and natural beauty, emphasizing our shared journeys and our connections to our surroundings. Five generations of my family have lived under her sheltering, far- reaching boughs.
So imagine my devastation when one of her limbs came down during a recent windstorm! My uncle and I stood on the porch and watched as these magnificent branches were cut into pieces and hauled away. Then the dreaded word, termites!
“She most likely can’t be saved,” we were told; she’ll probably have to come down. I was distraught. Elise couldn’t die, especially on my watch. I had to fight for her. It would have been easy to look at the damage and acquiesce to having her taken down, but I just couldn’t imagine the corner without her!
Enter a friend who has an amazing network of associates; she connected me to Joseph Evans, Horticulturist, LEED AP BD+C, and a Certified Permaculturalist, who consults, designs and manages projects with a focus on sustainability. After a lengthy conversation, Joe highly recommended Tim Benton (Benton Tree Service) a La and ISA Certified Arborist and Horticulturist, who is also ISA TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment & Qualification) certified.
I found out Tim has 27 years in the green industry: tree care, professional grower, and landscaping; and over 20 years as a climbing Arborist. I sent pictures, we talked on the phone, and he arranged to come to Morgan City within a few days to assess the tree. During his assessment, we discussed the health of the tree, the severity of the damage, and public safety concerns. He was cautiously optimistic.
The tone of the conversation was so positive and hopeful. Instead of focusing solely on the damage, he was focused on what could be done to save her. As he explained it, it’s his job to find a good solution for both the tree and the customer, while maintaining his commitment to promoting best practices in tree care. I felt I had found the right person to help restore Elise to health; one who was on my side, who understood my attachment and how important these centenarian trees are to our place in history and our environment. Someone who holds himself to the highest standards and wouldn’t compromise on them.
Every challenge brings opportunity for growth and fresh knowledge. I’ve learned so much about our majestic Live Oak trees through this process of working with Tim and his crew. Did you know that a Live Oak’s root system can extend 1½-2 times the spread of its crown?
For Elise, that means her roots are under the railroad tracks, under a driveway, under the house, and under Federal Avenue! No wonder she, like so many urban oaks, is stressed!
So the question became, how do we relieve some of the stress so she has a chance of recovery? Tim put Mark Schmitz in charge of the job. Mark is also a LA & ISA certified Arborist. It was immediately obvious that trees are more than just a job to Tim and to Mark. They live and breathe tree care. Just listening to them is a lesson about enjoying and being passionate about your profession. So, first things first, treat the wound. Mark cleaned out the crown of the trunk and smoothed the ragged edges left by the fallen limb. Then bark tracing, a process of chiseling away any loose bark and taking it back to a point where the layers (outer bark, phloem, cambium, and sapwood) are all in good contact with each other, then applying an artificial bark which is an environmentally friendly bonding/sealing compound. All of this helps promote growth of new callus tissue and helps prevent pathogens from entering the wound.
Next step, surreptitious pruning. Tim explained that “pruning techniques are evolving to include reduction of over-extended canopy and balancing rather than stripping the interior. Trees, including Live Oak, are sensitive to sunlight and ultraviolet rays. When it’s hot in the summer, the leaves of the outer canopy shut down and stop photosynthesizing, but if interior growth is below 85E then those leaves can still make food for the tree.”
The entire process of weight reduction and selective pruning was fascinating to observe! Mark is an expert climber, and watching him rig his ropes and navigate his way around the canopy was like watching an aerial artist at work. Add a chainsaw and a hand pruning saw, and seeing how meticulous he was with choosing what to cut, his skill and knowledge were unmistakable!
Final step, protection from pests and infection. Quoting Tim’s vast knowledge again, “Science is confirming that the automatic use of chemicals is not only unnecessary, but many times can harm the tree. If a Live Oak is pushing out over 4 inches of annual growth, then nitrogen fertilization, especially synthetic fertilizers derived from petroleum, which are actually chemical salts, can be harmful to the plant. ‘Hot’ nitrogen is caustic and can burn roots as well as killing beneficial soil microbes. We are learning that natural techniques which mimic nature are absolutely the best practice for promoting the health and longevity of your tree.”
These gorgeous Live Oak Trees are natural treasures. The Centenarians have withstood so much — hurricanes, floods, pests, pollution. They are strong and resilient, but sometimes need a little (or a lot of) help along the way. There’s an ethereal quality to a Live Oak, especially before twilight when the light turns and the limbs start to glow with an amber hue. Next time you’re passing this corner, slow down, take a breath, and allow the tranquility of the tree to seep in, giving a moment’s respite during a busy day.
So the question became, how do we relieve some of the stress so she has a chance of recovery? Tim put Mark Schmitz in charge of the job. Mark is also a LA & ISA certif ied Arborist. It was immediately obvious that trees are more than just a job to Tim and to Mark. They live and breathe tree care.
Just listening to them is a lesson about enjoying and being passionate about your profession. So, first things first, treat the wound. Mark cleaned out the crown of the trunk and smoothed the ragged edges left by the fallen limb. Then bark tracing, a process of chiseling away any loose bark and taking it back
to a point where the layers (outer bark, phloem, cambium, and sapwood) are all in good contact with each other, then applying an artificial bark which is an environmentally friendly bonding/sealing compound. All of this helps promote growth of new callus
tissue and helps prevent pathogens from entering the wound.
Next step, surreptitious pruning. Tim explained that “pruning techniques are evolving to include reduction of over-extended canopy and balancing rather than stripping the interior. Trees, including Live Oak, are sensitive to sunlight and ultraviolet rays. When it’s hot in the summer, the leaves of the outer canopy shut down and stop photosynthesizing, but if interior growth is below 85° then those leaves can still make food for the tree.”
The entire process of weight reduction and selective pruning was fascinating to observe! Mark is an expert climber, and watching him rig his ropes and navigate his
way around the canopy was like watching an aerial artist at work. Add a chainsaw and a hand pruning saw, and seeing how meticulous he was with choosing what to cut, his
skill and knowledge was unmistakable!
Final step, protection from pests and infection. Quoting Tim’s vast knowledge again, “Science is confirming that the automatic use of chemicals is not only unnecessary, but many times can harm the tree. If a Live Oak is pushing out over 4 inches of annual growth, then nitrogen fertilization, especially synthetic fertilizers derived from petroleum, which are actually chemical salts, can be harmful to the plant. ‘Hot’ nitrogen is caustic and can burn roots as well as killing beneficial soil microbes. We are learning that natural techniques which mimic nature are absolutely the best practice for promoting
the health and longevity of your tree.”
These gorgeous Live Oak Trees are natural treasures. The Centenarians have withstood so much - hurricanes, floods, pests, pollution. They are strong and resilient, but sometimes need a little (or a lot of) help along the way. There’s an ethereal quality to a Live Oak, especially before twilight when the light turns and the limbs start to glow with an amber hue. Next time you’re passing this corner, slow down, take a breath, and allow the tranquility of the tree to seep in, giving a moment’s respite during a busy day.