Preserving Bohemia’s Living Legends: Expert Care for Century-Old Oaks and Maples That Have Witnessed Generations

In the charming hamlet of Bohemia, New York, towering oaks and majestic maples stand as silent witnesses to over a century of local history. These magnificent giants, some reaching heights of 60-70 feet, require specialized care techniques that go far beyond standard tree maintenance. What counts as “old” depends on your trees’ species, but old-growth forests are mostly made up of trees older than 120-150 years. If your tree is over a century old, consider paying closer attention to the care it gets.

Understanding the Unique Needs of Veteran Trees

The towering oaks and majestic maples that provide shade and offer branches sturdy enough to support a swing require special care. As trees mature, they direct more of their energy toward the maintenance of living tissue and less energy to lengthening limbs and roots or expanding girth. Veteran trees have withstood the test of time, adding, “Old trees know how to live; they have survived drought, heat, freezes and floods and adapted.”

Century-old trees in Bohemia face unique challenges. When trees enter into a period of senescence, they begin to draw back the amount of structural wood that they must maintain (this is why you are able to see more blue sky). Property owners may notice smaller leaves, increased visibility through the canopy, and early leaf drop – all natural signs of aging that require professional intervention.

Specialized Soil Management Techniques

One of the most critical aspects of caring for mature trees is addressing soil health. By 2007 the soil beneath the historic grove of centuries-old oaks and sweetgums in front of the LuEsther T. Mertz Library Building had become so compacted and depleted of nutrients that Garden staff had to perform “vertical mulching,” a process that includes using compressed air or a soil auger to drill eight-inch deep holes that are backfilled with a mixture of topsoil and compost.

Your lawn competes with the tree roots for moisture and nutrients. Removing grass beneath the tree canopy redirects much-needed resources toward the tree, helping it thrive in its old age. Professional tree service bohemia companies understand these specialized soil improvement techniques that can revitalize century-old giants.

Precision Pruning for Aging Giants

Mature tree pruning requires exceptional skill and understanding. Veteran trees start to abort their lower limbs and interior limbs, focusing their energy on sustaining higher, outer limbs. It’s a good idea to prune limbs that are dead or declining (which helps with safety and aesthetics as well as tree health). You should avoid taking healthy limbs since mature trees produce so little new growth.

Timing is crucial for oak and maple care. Oaks should be pruned between November and March to avoid oak wilt disease, while maples can handle pruning almost any time except during heavy sap flow in early spring. Prune during the dormant season, not the growing season. “The sap from the open wound will attract insects, which are vectors for disease and could cause the tree to die.”

Advanced Root Protection Strategies

Old trees take a lot of space both above and under the ground, making construction in their vicinity a challenge. The complex root systems we can’t see are more far-spreading than the branches themselves. Close to the surface are fine, small roots that can be easily damaged by soil compaction, cutting from excavation, and grade changes. Extensive damage can cause a centuries-old trees to decline in health or even uproot – a loss for both the environment and property value.

A wide, even layer of mulch around the trunk is one of the best things you can do for a tree. It will insulate the soil around the tree’s roots, keep away power tools, discourage foot traffic, and improve the soil as it decays.

Intensive Water Management

Like saplings, veteran trees require a lot of water. It’s especially important to turn the hose on the massive roots during periods of drought. When watering aging trees, it’s best to water in the evening when trees are under less stress from heat; use drip irrigation or a soaker hose to gradually add moisture to the soil.

Professional Assessment and Monitoring

Once you know the age of your trees, you can schedule mature tree care services and support your mature trees by: Watching for signs of pests and disease. Scheduling regular tree inspections to catch problems early. When problems do arise, respond quickly to minimize the damage that may leave your trees struggling.

As a tree ages, it may develop cracks, disease, rot, or heavy dead branches. Have it inspected every few years by a certified arborist, who will be able to spot problems early and recommend pruning or other measures to prolong the tree’s life.

Why Professional Expertise Matters

Long Island Best Tree Service brings over 20 years of specialized experience to mature tree care in Bohemia. We have 20+ years of experience in providing high-quality residential and commercial tree services. We are a full-service Long Island tree company that has been providing top-notch residential and commercial tree services for the homeowners and business owners across Long Island, New York City, Brooklyn, and the Bronx for more than 20 years. We truly are experts in the industry. Our team of technicians receives extensive training to ensure that they deliver outstanding results.

Long Island Best Tree Service has been handling tree care across Suffolk County for years. Our arborists understand how coastal conditions affect tree health and what species thrive in Long Island’s sandy soil. This local expertise is invaluable when caring for century-old specimens that have adapted to specific environmental conditions over decades.

The Investment in Legacy

The U.S. Forest Service also estimates that healthy, mature trees can increase property values as much as 10 percent. Beyond financial benefits, these ancient trees provide irreplaceable ecological services and cultural value. Old trees have silently witnessed significant periods in human and environmental history, and in addition to providing shelter and food for generations of wildlife, have also supported treehouses, shaded picnics, and carried swings. They’re important to both our culture and our natural world – and, like most organisms that have reached a great age, require special care.

Preserving Bohemia’s century-old oaks and maples requires a delicate balance of science, art, and deep respect for these living monuments. With proper specialized care, these magnificent trees can continue to grace our landscapes for generations to come, maintaining their role as guardians of our community’s natural heritage.