When you think of Savannah,
one of the
first images you have is live oaks adorned with
Spanish moss. These trees add to the historic beauty
and colonial charm that makes Savannah a destination
city in the Southeast. Aside from their beauty, the live
oaks may be near-perfect trees to have in the urban
environment. They have a spreading canopy that can
cover a large area, making them great shade trees to
cool visitors, residents, and historic buildings. The live
oaks also keep the city green all winter long.
Aside from the environmental benefits, live oaks can
compartmentalize very well when injured, so they don't
decay rapidly like other trees. Most of the deadwood
is strong and secure, making them safer compared to
other trees with similar diameters of deadwood. Live
oaks can withstand weather events better than other
tree species in Savannah, which helps lower the liability
to the City. Their canopy provides a great habitat for a
variety of wildlife, songbirds, lizards, and small mammals. The live oak is a very popular tree to have on
one's property and can add considerable value. I cannot
think of a more perfect tree for this city. Kudos, Quercus
virginiana!
—Michael Pavlis, Tree Maintenance Supervisor, Park and
Tree, City of Savannah, Georgia
(above) Steve Shurtz with the Randall Oak (35 foot/10.7 meters
circumference) in New Roads, LA. Photo by Andrew Shurtz
A great southern live oak specimen on Jean Lafitte Drive in Baton Rouge • Photo by Steve Shurtz
www.urban-forestry.com
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