From the old ridge to the reclaimed lakefront
Tree Service in Gentilly, LA
Two kinds of ground, two kinds of tree problems, one neighborhood.
- Free estimates, in person, for homes in New Orleans and nearby towns
- Itemized written price before any cutting
- Logs left or hauled, your call, agreed up front
Ground Matters in Gentilly
Tree Service in Gentilly depends a lot on which part of Gentilly you live in. The neighborhood started on Gentilly Ridge, a long strip of high ground along the former banks of Bayou Gentilly, and the road built along it became Gentilly Boulevard and U.S. 90. North of the ridge, the land toward Lake Pontchartrain was largely swamp until better drainage pumps, reclamation and higher lakefront levees opened it up by the middle of the 20th century. Trees on old ridge soil and trees on reclaimed land behave differently, and we plan work with that in mind.
On and near the ridge
The older blocks around Gentilly Boulevard and Gentilly Terrace tend to have mature oaks and pecans with large crowns. Gentilly Terrace itself was built in the early 20th century by excavating and piling up earth in the swamp to make raised, terraced blocks, which is why some lots sit noticeably higher than the street. Roots on those built-up lots can run shallow along the edges of the terraces. Typical requests here are crown thinning, deadwood removal and clearing limbs off roofs and the service line.
Toward the lake
In neighborhoods like Lake Oaks, Lake Terrace, Pontchartrain Park and Gentilly Woods, much of the ground was drained and filled. Soft, wet soils let roots spread wide but not deep, so a tree can look solid and still have a limited root plate. After a few days of heavy rain, a lean that was not there before deserves a quick call. Those are the trees we check most carefully before hurricane season.
The 2005 floodwater and what it left
The London Avenue Canal floodwalls breached in two places during Katrina, and most of Gentilly flooded. Many homes needed full gutting, and less than half of residents and businesses had returned by early 2007. Trees that stood in that water were stressed for years, and some of the survivors have decay that only shows up now as hollow trunks or dead tops. We sound trunks and look at the root collar before recommending pruning on any older tree in a part of Gentilly that flooded.
Termites are part of the inspection
A 1999 study of living trees at a New Orleans research site found Formosan subterranean termites in 32.7% of loblolly pines, 8.2% of live oaks and 4.6% of bald cypress sampled. Infested trees hold colonies that can move into houses, and hollowed wood is weaker in wind. When we find signs such as mud tubes or carton nest material, we tell you what we see and whether the tree can reasonably stay.
Practical notes
- Trees between the sidewalk and street and on neutral grounds belong to the city; use 311 for those.
- Campus trees at UNO, Dillard and SUNO are the schools' responsibility, not neighbors'.
- We quote stump grinding and cleanup line by line so you can choose what you need.
Give us a call at (504) 384-7694 or send the form with a few photos, and we will arrange a visit. Get a free estimate
Gentilly at a Glance
- Gentilly Ridge. The neighborhood grew first along Gentilly Ridge, high ground on the old banks of Bayou Gentilly; the road on it became Gentilly Boulevard and U.S. Highway 90.
- Built-up terraces. Gentilly Terrace was created in the early 20th century by excavating and piling earth in the swamp to form terraced residential blocks.
- London Avenue Canal. Katrina's surge breached the London Avenue Canal floodwalls in two places, flooding most of Gentilly in 2005.
- Termites in living trees. A 1999 New Orleans study found Formosan subterranean termites in 32.7% of loblolly pines and 8.2% of live oaks sampled at its study site.
Gentilly Questions
Why does my yard sit higher than the street in Gentilly Terrace?
Gentilly Terrace was built by digging and piling earth to form raised blocks above the old swamp. Trees on those raised lots can root shallowly near the edges, so we look at the slope and root spread before taking weight off a big tree there.
Is a pine near my house a termite risk?
It can be. In one New Orleans study, about a third of loblolly pines sampled carried Formosan termites. A pine with mud tubes or soft spots near the base should be inspected, and if it leans toward the house, it may be better removed.
Our street flooded in 2005. Should I worry about the old oak now?
Not automatically, but it deserves a look. Trees that sat in floodwater can develop root and trunk decay slowly. Dead limbs at the top, fungus at the base or a hollow sound are signs worth checking.
Do you work near the universities?
Yes, on private homes in the surrounding neighborhoods. Trees on the UNO, Dillard and SUNO grounds belong to those institutions, so any request about them goes to the school.
Free Estimates in Gentilly, LA
Free estimates on the ridge and all the way to the lakefront.
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