On Oct. 22, 2013, arborists and multiple organizations from across Missouri teamed together to perform some much-needed care for the famous McBaine Bur Oak. The 350-year-old oak, dubbed "The Big Tree" is a fixture in the central Missouri community. It's sprawling crown and massive trunk bring countless University of Missouri students and Columbia residents to the Missouri River bottomlands.
Arborist William Spradley, president of Trees, Forests and Landscapes in Kirkwood, Mo., organized the day of tree care that included dead wood removal, fertilization, aeration, mulching and applications of beneficial chemicals to prevent root rot and other detrimental diseases. Lightning protection equipment also was installed.
