What do you guys think about this? This is actually happening in my neighborhood, and I am all for spending the money to save a 100 year old oak tree. My question is- is something like this even possible without killing it? This tree is massive and I can't even begin to imagine the root system. I will be sad if they do move it, I was hoping more for re-routing the road, but I didn't realize it would cost $250K more. Thoughts? http://www.chron.com/news/article/League-City-will-spend-200-000-to-move-tree-3389267.php LEAGUE CITY - Rather than knock down a tree in the way of a road-widening project, an East Texas city will spend almost $200,000 to move it. League City's council voted Tuesday to move the Ghirardi oak tree about a quarter of a mile for $197,500. That will allow the city to widen Louisiana Avenue on the city's east side. The oak tree is believed to have been planted by the city's founder more than 100 years ago. Officials say widening a different part of the avenue to avoid the tree would have cost at least $267,000 more. Supporters say the tree is part of League City's charm
<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zjOO3SnzQF8?version=3&hl=en_US&start=366"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zjOO3SnzQF8?version=3&hl=en_US&start=366" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> "Problem solved." - BDW
I say move the oak. The trouble with the trees is the oaks are just too lofty and they grab up all the light.
Hmmm... ODD article that google presented with "league city oak" search results: http://blog.chron.com/bayarea/2009/07/love-or-hate-that-league-city-logo-you-can-vote/ . Also, http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/bay_...cle_d9fec389-65ab-5325-b8b1-7ff4b3edc348.html (Sept 2011 article) is worth reading.
They are willing to use 200k to move a tree, yet when I went to Creek we were always on paper shortages.
Absolutely, they could move it and expect to be successful. I've seen some very large oaks close to the State Capitol moved to another location, and they were fine. It ain't easy, though. Not for really big trees, and there is some risk. I'm glad they're moving it, instead of cutting it down. Be nice if they'd just left the tree alone.
Use to ride by this tree all the time on the way to school, not so sure I'd spend 200k to save it lol. They say it would cost 237k more to widen another part of the road? I'm assuming thats 237k more than the 200k on moving it. ( So basically the widening of the road will cost 500k (because the road workers never do anything on schedule)
It's not gonna make it. IMO, an oak that old is way past the point of transplant. But, I'm sure they sought a pros opinion before dropping 200k to move it, so what do i know.
The city would be better off buying a little land and planting a few oak trees on it. Plant 4 to make up for that 1. I'm sure that would cost less than 200k.
It's actually becoming fairly common to move large oaks now. Walmart has done it quite a number of times. Some city "scenic" codes require it. Probability of survival depends a lot on after-move maintenance but is usually better than 50%.
