Ten inches of rain in a single storm
Tree Service in Meraux, LA
Tree work planned around the rain and wind that reach lower St. Bernard first.
- 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
Weather Comes Through Meraux First
Tree Service in Meraux has to start with the weather. During Hurricane Ida in August 2021, the National Weather Service recorded 10.96 inches of rain at Meraux, one of the higher totals in southeast Louisiana outside St. Tammany Parish. An elevated weather station at Bayou Bienvenue, between the city and lower St. Bernard, recorded 99 mph gusts during Ida and 112 mph during Hurricane Zeta the year before. Meraux sits right in the path of what comes up from the Gulf and across Lake Borgne.
Wet soil plus wind
It is the combination that knocks trees down. A tree that would ride out 70 mph on dry ground can tip in 50 mph once the soil around its roots has turned soft. Meraux's listed elevation is about seven feet, a little higher than much of the metro, but the ground still holds water after a long rain. When we look at a Meraux tree before hurricane season, we pay attention to: 1. Lean: whether it has changed since last year 2. Root flare: whether it is visible, buried, or showing cracks in the soil 3. Crown weight: how much sail the tree presents, and whether thinning would help 4. Targets: what the tree would hit, from the house to the car to the neighbor's roof
A community still filling back in
Katrina hit Meraux hard with storm surge and wind, and the storm destroyed the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet levee. Meraux's population went from 10,192 in 2000 to 5,816 in 2010, then grew 17% to 6,804 by 2020. That pattern shows up in the yards: rebuilt homes with young trees, vacant or recently built lots that have grown up in volunteer trees and brush, and a few older survivors.
Lots that went wild
Where a lot sat empty for a decade or more, it is common to find a thicket of Chinese tallow, hackberry and willow, some of it now 30 or 40 feet tall. Clearing a lot like that is a different job from pruning a yard tree. We cut and chip the trees, grind the stumps so the lot can be mowed or built on, and give you a price for each part so you can decide how far to go.
The trees worth keeping
Not everything on an overgrown lot needs to go. Live oaks and bald cypress that came up on their own after 2005 can be worth saving if they are well placed and sound. When we clear a lot, we flag any tree that looks like a keeper and ask before cutting it, then prune it so it can grow into a proper shade tree instead of a thicket member.
Getting through the season
The new surge barrier with its gate at Bayou Bienvenue, completed in 2011, helps with floodwater. It does not stop wind or rain. Pruning out deadwood and weak limbs in late spring, before the season peaks, is the step most likely to keep a limb out of your living room. Call (504) 384-7694 and we will come take a look. Get a free estimate
Meraux Facts
- Ida rainfall. The National Weather Service recorded 10.96 inches of rain at Meraux during Hurricane Ida in August 2021.
- Population swing. Meraux had 10,192 residents in 2000, 5,816 in 2010 after Katrina, and 6,804 in the 2020 census.
- Katrina's damage. Katrina struck Meraux with storm surge and wind and destroyed the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet levee; the town's listed elevation is about 7 feet.
- Wind records nearby. Elevated stations at Bayou Bienvenue logged a 99 mph gust in Ida (2021) and a 112 mph gust in Zeta (2020).
Meraux Questions
When should I schedule storm-prep pruning in Meraux?
Late winter through spring is ideal, so the work is done before the busiest part of hurricane season. Crews book up fast once a storm is in the Gulf.
Can you clear a lot that has grown up in trees since 2005?
Yes. We cut and chip the trees and brush, grind the stumps and can haul everything off. The estimate separates each step so you can decide how much to do.
Is thinning a tree really enough to protect my house?
Thinning reduces wind load and removes the weak or dead limbs most likely to break, which lowers risk considerably. It will not save a tree with failing roots, so we also check the base and soil on every inspection.
Do you remove trees that are leaning after heavy rain?
Yes. A tree that has started leaning after saturated ground is a priority, especially if it is leaning toward a house or road. We assess whether it can be stabilized by reducing weight or whether it needs to come down, and schedule it ahead of routine pruning.
Free Estimates in Meraux, LA
Free estimates in Meraux and the surrounding St. Bernard communities.
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