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JUST A MERE OAK TREE
This large oak tree
(identified by Alabama forest dept.)
located on Lee St. (hwy
10) at Rutledge, Al. is estimated
to be 80 to 180 years
old but there is no way to be sure.
A Project was started
March 10 2003 to thin out the tree
limbs, remove all dead
wood and place cables to each limb for
support. Tree expert,
David Pettie and crew spent 3 days
on this. One day and a
half was spent removing dead
branches and thinning
tree limbs. this was done so the wind
could blow free thru the
tree during a storm, preventing the
tree from being blown
down.
One day and a half was
spent placing cables to limbs and the
trunk of the tree. This
was accomplished by placing steel eyelets
into large limbs and the
trunk. A 5/16 hole was drilled in the
limbs and the eyelets
were twisted in place, then the cable was
pulled thru the eyelet
and clamped down. Eighteen inches of
slack was left on each
cable so in the future, the cables could
be adjusted for growth.
After the cables were placed, all
cavities and holes were
filled with a sand cement mix. The
flying squirrels that
lived in these cavities, did not like this
at all. Filling the
cavities took 4 bags of 80 lb. cement. Also
used were 400 ft of
cable, 48 eyelets and 96 clamps. The Oak
was fertilized using 200
lbs. of 13-13-13. Using a 6 inch auger,
holes were drilled 14
inches deep and every eight feet at the end
of the crown spread.
Five pounds of fertilizer was placed in each
hole
This job was completed
on March 12,2003 at a cost of over
$3000.00, but if this
saves this oak it will be well worth
the price. This tree was
here when my family purchased this
land in 1937 from Mr. Ed
Franklin. In early 2003 the tree was
measured, circumference
was 258", crown spread was 46.75'
and point value came to
373.75, falling a little short of the
record of 389.98 for
this type tree. At this writing I am 65
years old.
Information on how to
nominate a tree can be obtained from
the Alabama Forestry
Commission Office, 513 Madison Ave.
Montgomery Al. 36130.
Other information can be obtained
from American Forests,
P.O. Box 2000, Washington D. C.
20013-2000 Ph.
022-955-4500 ext 211.
Jimmy Gibson
2319 Lee Street
Rutledge, Al. 36071
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