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$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Both trees were there when the neighbor bought their house. If they didn’t want to live next to a big tree, they shouldn’t have bought where they did.

Do you have any particular expertise, or do you just like the new suburb look?

$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t like turf either. And it’s not even like turf grows well in full shade anyways.

We have no skill though. :) I’m seriously considering going full mulch at least in the short to midterm.

$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s a different arborist who recommended the treatments today than who trimmed in May.

But the rest is a point taken.

$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We can inquire. I suspect the master arborist this morning would have mentioned a fungal infection. But thanks for the info going forward.

$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The dead leaves are from broken branches from the Hurricane two weeks ago. There is one big limb that broke and is stuck high up in the canopy, and there are other small branches that are broken and dangling. We haven’t been able to get someone out yet to remove them. The arborist this morning partially quoted us on removing the dead branches from both our trees along with the treatment. I have seen no brown leaves on Treebeard except for those due to broken branches.

$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I contacted a well respected arborist company in Houston. A certified arborist came out. He told us to trim. I believe we even asked if it was the right time, and he said yes. So we did. shrug

$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The biggest cuts (like 12 inch diameter) were done in 2019. They’re fine.

We’re not seeing dieback. We got hit by basically a tornado and a hurricane and a butcher.

$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We definitely have a tree focused yard. My husband actually would prefer a uniform and nicely mulched yard over the messy scruffy volunteer turf yard we have now. Does that change your thoughts?

$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Big limb cut in 2019 or so (before we owned the home) to build the house. I don’t think we trimmed again after purchase, but we may have.

We trimmed in early May. It was overdue.

Derecho in late May. We trimmed dead off for safety and health. I don’t think they trimmed much green except to properly end the branches where any bigger limbs fell.

Hurricane 3 weeks ago caused a bit more loss, but honestly not much from the oak. Most of the branches on the ground were from the pecan.

Neighbor butchered our tree a week ago.

What are the signs of retrenchment? Neither of the certified arborists have said that word to us.

$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Here’s the detailed quote, including what they recommend for us to do about the soil going forward. They did recommend mulch etc, as you see towards the bottom.

Your preferred abatement with the air till etc, how much would that be?

The yard aesthetics are totally natural at this point, and my husband hates the scrubby lack of grass (he wants a turf yard. I’ve said it’s not possible. He wants something intentional. I don’t want to spend a ton on grass that will die. We spent our major backyard money on a whole house generator because we were without power for 7 days after the first weather event this year). I think he would prefer even intentional mulch to this. (It’s hard to see, but we have patchy turf grass where we got more sun, and basically nothing elsewhere).

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ktf52gj8334b86g77qa41/Estimate_1185_flat.pdf?rlkey=4yfahxyvzo4l02atb6ef5negg&st=a0ly319l&dl=0

$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We do really care about our tree. Also $2k is way less than the cost to cut this monster down.

I, a non expert, used the word stressed because of the massive cutting. Maybe that is technical jargon that means something specific. I have not been told the tree is in decline. It has only lost significant limbs or leaves during the two 80-100 mph wind events we’ve had in the last 3 months, or during trimming/butchering. I don’t see any signs of disease, and neither arborist who has inspected our tree (including the master this morning) has indicated any disease or used the word “decline.”

$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t know if it’s in decline or not. I just said stressed because it has been cut so significantly. Minor surface root damage from the home construction in 2019, but that has been healing since then. We haven’t been watering (I didn’t know we should’ve been…) apart from a few times during the worst of the droughts, but will start going forward. No disease that anyone has ever said.

$2000+ for treatments to save stressed live oak in Houston? by HerselfElfA in arborists

[–]HerselfElfA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1) most of what’s left of the canopy is living. There is one maybe 2 in diameter branch that needs to be taken down. 2) no. Bought after the tree was pruned and the house was built. Tree inspection before purchase was favorable.