10/10/2007
Overcup overhead
Rice moves 40-foot-tall oak
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As part of Rice University's effort to preserve as many trees as
possible during construction, a 40-foot-tall overcup
oak was moved from the front of Autry Court and replanted near the
campus tennis courts Oct. 6.
The tree is 24 inches in diameter, weighs about 100,000 pounds and is estimated to be 60 years old.
The
moving process entailed several stages. A hole was dug at the new
location. The tree's root ball was excavated about two weeks
before the move and wrapped in burlap. Pipes were placed under the root
ball, and beams were installed under the pipes to provide a platform
under the tree for lifting. A crane lifted the tree onto a flatbed
truck, which transported the tree to its new location. The crane was
dismantled and then reassembled beside a 25-foot-by-25-foot hole near
the tennis courts. The crane lowered the tree from the truck into the
hole. After dirt was back-filled around the root ball and the area
cleaned up, the tree was watered to welcome it to its new home.
Learn more about construction on campus.
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| PHOTOS BY JEFF FITLOW |
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