The Death of Ol Oakie – The passing of a legend

[M.D. Holloway]

I guess it was a matter of time. All the other Post Oaks in on our street have gone the way of all flesh. We held out and thought that ours was stronger, more durable and had what it took to thwart the misguided burying of cable and paving of soil. But alas, our hope was in vane.

We tried deep root watering, soil nutrients and proper fertilizations. I even contacted an expert in Post Oaks for guidance last year when the tree lost leaves early. He said to dig up all the soil to the drip line and put down mulch. That’s not an option.

So, in a few months I will take chain saw in hand and put ol Oakie to rest. I will look to save the good timbers, take them to a mill and get some planks made for a future project. The smaller pieces will be sent off for fire wood. As for the stump, I’m gonna get a chainsaw artist to do something special in remembrance of a tree that provided shade, faux rocket jetpack launches, countless tire swing adventures and even a home for a Redheaded Woodpecker.

Feel free to share you ideas if you have any…

[M.D. Holloway]

Another View - ol Oakie had a girth greater than 44 inches and over 100 years old most likely.

[RANDY P]

don't know much about trees, but damn fine house you have there..


rjp

[gaijindabe]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77


Feel free to share you ideas if you have any…

Plant another oak. Stay away from those stunted namby-pamby trees they are pushing on us, if they allow us to have any trees at all...

[M.D. Holloway]

Normally I would agree. We would have to wait about four generations to have anything of size. The soil here sucks as well as strange water table things going on with the various construction projects.

[livi]

Mike,

Besides wine, women and song, Porsche and music, I have one big passion: Trees. I don´t mean gardening in general, bushes or flowers - but trees. Big, old trees. Hundred of years old. Standing there, peaceful, 'watching' the surroundings change. Standing there before my grand grandfather was born and still standing there long after my grandchildren are gone. Impressive!

And man, is that your mansion !!!

[notfarnow]

What about commissioning a local artist to do a painting of the tree? That first picture is particularly dramatic. If you & your family have a lot of memories & stories involving that tree, a painting of it could make a nice family heirloom. I'm sure you'd have lots of local starving artists that would be interested in a project like that.

[id10t]

Cut if off about 4' up and move your mailbox to it

I hate seeing old trees go, especially around here. We've got lots of old live oaks, big granddaddy things. Local mall is named after them - Oaks Mall. Funny thing is, about 5 years ago, they cut down *all* of the big 200+ year old trees around the mall to plant freakin Palm Trees. Sure, we're in Florida, but palms aren't native this far north... arg!

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by livi
Mike,...And man, is that your mansion !!!

livi - I agree, nothing like a big ol tree. And yes it is our home but no it is no mansion (its roughly 3800sq ft) but thanks for the complement.

Texas is one of the last places you can get a house like this but those days are numbered. We paid far less than you would think for this a few years ago. It has already increased in value about 24%. Accross the street is a great park with a pound and we live on a cul de sac (for now).

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by notfarnow
What about commissioning a local artist to do a painting of the tree?

Thats a pretty darn good idea! Thanks.

[87coupe]

Sad to see such a nice tree lost.

My thought is that your tree was doomed from the moment your house was built. Post oaks don't do well when a lawn is planted around them - too much water. They also require an oxygen rich root zone, and are generally quite sensitive to the compacting of dirt around the tree. Unfortunately the deep root watering probably quickened it's demise.

[gaijindabe]

Your great grandchildren will thank you:

http://www.naturehills.com/new/product/productdetails.aspx?proname=Post+Oak&Campaign_id=69&user=shareasale&SSAID=103414

[M.D. Holloway]

By that time trees will be something of the stuff of zoos...