League City Historical Society
Live Oak Tree Registry

The League City Historical Society is creating a registry of live oak trees in League City through a grant from the Texas Forest Service. The live oak is the symbol of League City, and many of our trees are more than a century old.

We are happy to register live oaks of any size, to promote the planting on new trees and the appreciation and ongoing care of old trees. Owners receive certificates of registration, and may give their trees special names if they wish.

Large trees are measured according to the standards of the American Tree Registry, and given a total point index on this national scale. Index points are determined by adding the trunk circumference in inches, the height in feet, and the canopy spread in feet.

In League City we have created categories according to size:

           Majestic: 225 points or more
           Noble: 175 to 224 points
           Stately: 125 to 174 points
           Mature: 75 to 125 points
           Young: Under 75 points

Basic care of a live oak tree:

  1. Do not cover the roots of a live oak within a 15 foot radius, nor cover the roots with fill more than one quarter of the way around the tree. The roots will smother and the tree will die a slow death.

  2. Avoid parking a vehicle under an oak, as it compacts the soil and smothers the roots.

  3. Add mulch around your tree, to allow air and nourishment to help the tree with its life process. However, do not pile mulch against the trunk of the tree. A gentle slope of mulch outward from the base of the tree is best. Do not create a volcano effect with mulch, as it can do more harm than good.

  4. If a live oak has been damaged by construction work or drought, it is helpful to give the tree a dose of root stimulator (Note: this is different from regular fertilizer). It is not necessary to fertilize a live oak except when first planted, in order to give it a good start. Fertilizer will do more harm than good to a stressed tree. Mulch it instead and water it occasionally.

  5. During droughts soak the entire root zone under the trees crown canopy.

  6. If your trees canopy is very thick, you may wish to have a certified professional arborist open up the canopy to allow light and air to flow. If moss gets too thick, it may also need thinning to allow air to circulate more freely.

  7. Never have your tree topped (dehorned) or liontailed (thinned excessively, leaving only the outer branches). A good arborist will prune it so carefully that when he is gone it will be difficult to tell that he was even there.

  8. Do not drive nails into a live oak. If hanging a swing or tire swing, insert the chain or rope into a rubber tube or cushioned protection layer to prevent wear on the branches and inspect the device annually to make sure it is not rubbing or strangling the limbs as the tree grows larger.

  9. Do not whitewash the tree.

  10. If a tree is in a low area where the drainage pattern has changed and water sits for weeks at a time, provide for better drainage, as the oaks roots can smother in water.

  11. Be very careful with herbicides. A tree is just a big, broadleaf weed to a lawn weed killer.

  12. Watch your tree for any signs of declining growth rate or crown dieback, as these are symptoms of root problems, which often can be treated successfully by a certified arborist if attended to early.

To register a live oak tree with the Leaque City Historical Society, please fill out and mail in the following form:

           Microsoft Word format:      Download
 
           PDF format:    Download

If you would like to nominate a tree for the registry, please contact Fay Dudney at 281-332-1382, Kathy Weisskopf at 281-554-6317, or write to the Live Oak Tree Registry, League City Historical Society, P.O. Box 1642, League City, TX 77574.

The League City Historical Society is a non-profit 501-c-3 organization, and an equal opportunity provider.