Tree Healthcare · Plant Health Recovery
Three Months to Bring the Governor’s Oak Back
Louisiana
A declining oak at Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s home, diagnosed and treated through its soil, was back in full green leaf in about three months.
- Project type
- Tree healthcare · Plant health recovery
Client- Governor Jeff Landry
- Recovery
- Full canopy in about 3 months
Primary arborist- Ricky Folse
Before & after
Same Tree. One Season Apart.
Drag the slider to compare the oak before treatment with the same tree about 3 months later.
- Before
- Thin, sparse canopy with sky showing through
- After
- Full, dense green canopy
- Time between
- About three months
The Challenge
A large, mature oak at the Governor’s home was in decline. Its canopy had thinned out, with bare branches showing through and leaves dropping across the lawn. Left alone, a tree in that condition keeps losing the energy it needs to defend itself and recover.
The Assessment
Ricky started with a diagnosis, not a quick fix. He looked at the whole picture: the condition of the tree itself, its root zone, and the soil it was growing in, to find what was driving the decline rather than just treating the thin canopy.
The Solution
The treatment worked on two fronts. Ricky treated the soil and root zone to restore the conditions the tree needs to feed itself, and treated the tree directly to support its recovery. The root zone was mulched to protect the roots, hold moisture and keep feeding the soil as the mulch breaks down.
Why this approach
A tree’s canopy is only as healthy as what happens underground. Spraying or fertilizing the symptoms rarely turns a decline around. Fixing the soil and root zone gives the tree back its own strength, and a tree with its vigor back can push out new growth and defend itself.
The Result
In about three months the oak went from a thin, struggling canopy to full, dense green leaf. Compare the canopy above: same tree, one season apart.
Before and after photos from Veteran Tree Care, cropped to the canopy for the client’s privacy. Treatment summary from Ricky Folse.
The arboricultural science
Techniques Used on This Project.
Only the methods actually used on this project are listed.
- Plant health careDiagnosing and treating the causes of decline, not just the symptoms.
- Root-zone protection with arborist chipsWhole-tree wood chips insulate roots, hold moisture and feed soil life.
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