Here¹s a follow-up to the earlier discussion:

With the advice from this listserve (see below) I called Don Gardner, consulting arborist, $125/visit. He doesn¹t provide any other services, just diagnoses and recommends treatments. He came today and did an extensive analysis of huge live oak tree in my front yard, 6400 Nasco.

He said this tree is stressed because of the very dry weather we¹ve had in the last 9 months; and because it has gotten so big that its root system is constrained by house, street, etc. He called the thin canopy ³tip die-off² and said that the tree could recover in 1-2 years if treated, but that it was a symptom that shouldn¹t be ignored.

His recommended treatments include deep watering everywhere in my yard under the tree¹s canopy, organic compost spread over my yard and gardens and watered in, and some feeding of the tree itself with an organic seaweed blend. Absolutely no herbicides on the turf. He also recommended I pull any plantings/dirt 10-12 inches away from the tree¹s trunk . I have planting beds near the tree with landscape fabric/weed barrier‹I¹m going to pull that off because it keeps the tree¹s roots from getting air. He was happy I use Scott George of Austin Beautiful Trees whenever I need the canopy lifted off the street or house, and that I do minimal tree-trimming, and no stripping of trunk or branches.

I didn¹t ask him about the other arborist¹s recommended deep fertilization and fungicide because I¹d already learned from Google what Mr. Gardner felt about those treatments.

Most of this was specific to this tree and to my landscaping, and I recommend Mr. Gardner to all those who side-posted me with tree concerns. Great fun to be around someone that passionate and knowledgeable about Austin¹s trees!

Anne Province Nasco Drive