Summary Most trees that die in New Orleans are killed by conditions at the root zone rather than by pests or disease. Root suffocation in saturated clay, buried root flares, construction damage, and girdling roots account for the majority of losses, and all of them take years to show symptoms in the canopy. Big Easy… Continue reading What Kills Trees Permanently? Common Causes in New Orleans, LA

Summary Soil preparation starts with a test, then drainage, then structure, and only after that with nutrients. Around New Orleans the limiting factor is almost never fertility, it is heavy clay that drains slowly over a high water table. The LSU AgCenter provides soil testing for Louisiana residents, which takes the guesswork out of what… Continue reading How to Prepare Soil for Planting in New Orleans, LA

Summary Collect acorns in fall, discard any that float in water, and plant them about an inch deep soon after gathering. Live oak acorns germinate quickly after falling in warm, moist conditions and generally do not need the cold stratification period that guides written for northern oaks describe. In New Orleans, the harder part is… Continue reading How to Grow a Tree From an Acorn in New Orleans, LA

Summary Tree roots absorb water and dissolved nutrients through fine root hairs, anchor the tree, and store energy, and they need oxygen from soil air to do any of it. That last requirement is what makes New Orleans difficult. Saturated clay soil holds almost no oxygen, so roots sitting in waterlogged ground suffocate even while… Continue reading How Tree Roots Work in New Orleans, LA Soil