Here’s a short time-lapse video of a minor stem canker surgery we did on an ancient coast live oak here in Big Sur yesterday. The surgical protocol involves canker removal with an axe and multi-tool, cauterization of wound, and mineral poultice application. We also treated this oak with compost tea, alkaline-rich soil minerals, and limewash.
Another video of a stem canker surgery on an ancient coast live oak in Big Sur, CA
2 10 2021Comments : Leave a Comment »
Categories : Big Sur, Fire mimicry, Oak health, Sudden Oak Death
Coast live oaks in Soquel, CA respond to fire mimicry
28 09 2021
Last September (2020) I treated 8 mature coast live oaks in Soquel, CA, with fire mimicry. We first pruned and cleared around the oaks, which was documented at the time in this post “Initial stages of fire mimicry in Soquel, CA”. We then spread compost tea and alkaline-rich minerals to the surrounding soils, and applied limewash to the trunks of the oaks. After one (drought) year, all 8 of the oaks are showing improvement in canopy density and lushness. Note that in Case No. 20200927.6 (below), this oak is severely infected with a stem canker disease (probably Sudden Oak Death) but is still showing a slight improvement in canopy health.
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Categories : Case studies, Fire mimicry, Monterey/Carmel, Oak health, Repeat photography, Sudden Oak Death
Major stem canker surgery on an ancient coast live oak in Big Sur
21 09 2021
Today I performed a major stem canker surgery in an effort to save an Esselen-era (400+ years old) coast live oak in Big Sur. The process involved large and small axe work, power multi-tools, cauterization, and poultice. This is part of a larger protocol called fire mimicry, which includes removal of woody understory, fertilization of soils with alkaline-rich minerals + compost tea, and application of limewash to the trunk. Here’s the link to a time-lapse video of today’s surgery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEISFdAErc4
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Categories : Big Sur, Fire mimicry, Native people, Oak health, Sudden Oak Death
Successful stem canker surgery on coast live oak in Kentfield, CA
27 06 2021
Here is a sick coast live oak with a stem canker infection (probably Sudden Oak Death). At that time a surgical procedure was performed to remove and cauterize the canker (see original post here). After one and a half years this oak has made a significant recovery, both in the healing of the surgical wound and in the lushness of the canopy. Note that there is no further bleeding or other symptoms of stem canker infection. More evidence for the efficacy of fire mimicry.
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Categories : Case studies, Fire mimicry, North Bay, Oak health, Repeat photography, Sudden Oak Death
Positive response of oaks to fire mimicry seen in just one year
16 06 2021
Last year we treated several canyon live oaks in Aptos, CA with fire mimicry. Here are the results …
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Categories : Case studies, Fire mimicry, Monterey/Carmel, Oak health, Repeat photography, Sudden Oak Death
Update on stem canker surgery on coast live oak in Monterey, CA
15 06 2021
In June of 2018 I discovered two bleeding stem canker infections (possibly Sudden Oak Death) in an old coast live oak in Monterey, CA. I performed fire mimicry treatments on this tree, and surgically removed and cauterized the bleeding stem cankers. Below are photos showing the procedure and as well as the recovery of the wounds and canopy of the oak after three years. Enjoy!
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Categories : Case studies, Fire mimicry, Monterey/Carmel, Oak health, Repeat photography, Sudden Oak Death
Despite the drought, sick coast live oaks in Salinas, CA respond to fire mimicry
31 05 2021
Last year on this date I first treated several ailing coast live oaks with a fire mimicry protocol. To be honest, I was not optimistic about being able to help these oaks, which had been in decline for several years. Still, the owner wanted to try and I’m sure happy that he did. Today I inspected and re-photographed the oaks and, despite the different light conditions, found they have clearly shown improvement in canopy density and lushness. Note that the final oak in this series is UNTREATED.
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Categories : Case studies, Fire mimicry, Monterey/Carmel, Oak health, Repeat photography, Sudden Oak Death
More coast live oaks in Piedmont, CA respond to fire mimicry
29 05 2021
Here are some other coast live oaks in Piedmont, CA, all of which have responded to fire mimicry treatments in just one year.
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Categories : Case studies, East Bay, Fire mimicry, Oak health, Repeat photography, Sudden Oak Death
Coast live oaks and coast redwood in Piedmont, CA respond to fire mimicry
25 05 2021
Yesterday I inspected and re-photographed several ailing coast live oaks and a coast redwood in Piedmont, CA that were treated with fire mimicry one year ago. The photos indicate that all of the trees show clear improvement in canopy density and lushness. Thank you for taking notice of, and sharing, these important results!
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Categories : Case studies, East Bay, Fire mimicry, Oak health, Redwoods, Sudden Oak Death
Even under drought conditions coast live oaks respond to fire mimicry
23 05 2021
Last year fire mimicry treatments were applied to several coast live oaks in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Watsonville. Despite the very dry rainy season and current drought conditions, these oaks are showing noticeable improvement in their canopy density after just one year. The soil fertilization treatments involved very little nitrogen or phosphorus and focused, instead, on amendments with alkaline-rich mineral nutrients. This is more evidence that fire mimicry is viable approach to improving and maintaining oaks health.
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Categories : Case studies, Fire mimicry, Oak health, Repeat photography, Sudden Oak Death
Sudden Oak Life by Lee Klinger 
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