Moving a BIG tree-- cool vid

[JRD77VET]

The Ghirardi Compton Oak has been a piece of League City's history for over 100 years. The tree stands 56 feet tall, has a canopy that is over 100 feet wide, and is 135 inches around. It also weighs an incredible 518,000 pounds. A county road widening project put the future of the Ghirardi Oak in jeopardy. Council voted to use park dedication funds to hire Hess Landscaping Construction to move the majestic oak. A project that took them just under a month to complete. Watch the incredible process from start to finish in this video.

100 Year Old Compton Oak Move Successful in League City - YouTube

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There is some serious power moving that tree

[F40]

That was cool. Nice find!

[mrvette]

Cheaper to move the damn ROAD than that, hope it survives, some serious power there, note the name CAT ....for when you need some very serious shit done,

[78SA]

[CP]

It would have weighed less if they moved it without the leaves. WTH transplants trees in the summertime, anyway. This should have been done in January or February.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Cheaper to move the damn ROAD than that

Once in a while it not all about money ya know?

[CP]

Originally Posted by Thomas

Once in a while it not all about money ya know?

In Texas it is. Probably some city councilman's brother in law owns the tree moving business.

[Stangkiller]

Originally Posted by CP

In Texas it is. Probably some city councilman's brother in law owns the tree moving business.

Lts not forget all the racism history that played into this. Apparently MLK made a speech near this tree and THAT'S why they demanded the tree be saved. Wtf it's a tree it's going to eventually die anyways.

[OddBall]

probably croak out and be firewood next year

[Sea Six]

I'd give it 50/50

[Jeff '79]

Originally Posted by OddBall

probably croak out and be firewood next year

Ya, I wonder if it actually lived....

That was really cool though....

[Sea Six]

LEAGUE CITY — A carpet of dead leaves has settled around the Ghirardi Compton Oak in League City. It has been more than two months since the 100-year-old oak was moved 1,500 feet to its new home, and the brown leaves piling up below its branches have some people worried.

But the defoliation is a normal part of the process, said Erik Hess, president and owner of Hess Landscape Construction Co., the company hired to move the tree.

The rare Compton oak used to sit near Louisiana Avenue and FM 518. At one point, it was to be cut down to make room for the widening of Louisiana Avenue. But after months of debate, the city council voted to spend $197,500 of park-dedicated funds to move the tree.

“The tree is doing great,” Hess said.

A tree will defoliate to get rid of old growth, Hess said, and that will typically happen after a stressful move.

The good news is that the dead leaves are being pushed by new growth, he said. Crews also have noticed new root growth, he said.

After inspecting the tree and climbing up in it two weeks ago, Hess said the historic oak is doing better than expected.

“We’ve been surprised by the recovery of that tree in the period of time,” he said.

The first 18 months are the most critical, so the tree’s health will be monitored, Hess said.

Between his company and the city, a team of 11 people is keeping tabs on the tree. For the next three years, it will be monitored on a biweekly basis, Hess said.

The watering schedule is based on regional climate and rainfall. Water levels are checked weekly, Hess said.

There also are tubes dug into the ground around the tree that allow crews to see whether water is building up, he said.

Hess said the tree is not out of the woods yet — it still needs constant monitoring. Hess said he has seen the interest in the Ghirardi oak and will be down personally at least once a month to inspect the tree.

Ghirardi Compton Oak in 'great shape'

[OddBall]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Ghirardi Compton Oak in 'great shape'

yeah it is. It's out in a field.

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by OddBall

yeah it is. It's out in a field.

Actually, it's outstanding in it's field.

[CP]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Actually, it's outstanding in it's field.

A farmer??

[Bucwheat]

Some pretty cool work there.

[mrvette]

Wife's Son In Law is a old Forest Ranger type for a few years, and so knows a goodly bit about trees and even PALM trees, so we transplanted a Palm from their front yard to ours, it's got 4 stalks on it, and kinda leans over a bit, so has character.....it's losing prawns, so we trim them, but new ones are growing, been here about 4-5 months now...

we also cut out a tree sprout from another similar tree on one side, and put it in the middle of the yard, and so it's kinda hanging in there with a complete leave change since last March.....had to cut a tap root off the main tree to move it, but it's hanging in there so far.....

reading above makes me feel less nervous about our projects there.....

I know from nuttin' about plants/trees.....that's a HER dept.....

they stay alive better that way.....