Where the over-water oil industry began
Tree Service in Oil City, LA
Care for older trees in a small town between Caddo Lake and Vivian.
- Every estimate done in person around Shreveport and nearby towns
- The written quote lists what is and is not included
- Debris and stump handling decided in advance
An Oil Town With Old Trees
Tree Service in Oil City often involves trees that have been growing as long as the town has been settled. Oil City sits on Louisiana Highway 1 just north of Caddo Lake in northwest Caddo Parish, about 21 miles from downtown Shreveport and 9 miles south of Vivian. The lake next door has a big place in oil history: in 1911 the world's first over-water oil platform was completed on Caddo Lake: the Ferry Lake No. 1 well, drilled by Gulf Refining Company to 2,185 feet, produced 450 barrels a day.
Today Oil City is a small town of 901 residents, counted in 2020, on less than 2 square miles. Many yards have trees that predate the current homes, and some have grown around old fences, foundations or equipment from earlier days.
Old trees, hidden problems
A big old oak or pecan can look solid from the street and still hide trouble. Things we check on mature Oil City trees: 1. The base and root flare. Fungus, soft wood, cavities or ground heaving. 2. The trunk. Cracks, seams, old wounds that have not closed and hollow sections. 3. Major forks. Tight V-shaped unions with bark pinched inside can split under load. 4. The crown. Dead tops, large dead limbs and sudden thinning. 5. What is underneath. A tree over a bedroom or a carport needs a different decision than one over an empty lot.
Most old trees can be kept safely with pruning: removing dead wood, reducing heavy limbs and clearing the roof. When decay has gone too far, removal is the right call, and we explain why.
Embedded metal and old debris
Trees that grew around fence wire, nails, chains or old pipe can be difficult to cut, and metal hidden inside a trunk can damage saws and stump grinders. If you know a tree has history, tell us. We look for signs during the estimate and plan around them.
Lake weather
Being close to Caddo Lake means open water to the south and wind that can build across it. Trees along the north shore and in open yards take that wind directly. Before spring storm season is a good time to have large trees checked.
Storm cleanup
After a storm, broken limbs and hanging branches over roofs and the power drop are the first priority. If anything is touching a line, call the electric utility before anyone works near it. Once it is safe, we clear the hangers, cut up the downed wood and leave the yard clean. A written estimate comes first, even after a storm, so you know the price before work begins.
Getting a quote
Call (318) 309-7506 or send the form with your address and a photo. We can often combine Oil City jobs with work in Vivian or Mooringsport, and we put everything in a written estimate. Get a free estimate
Oil City at a Glance
- First over-water well. The world's first over-water oil platform was completed on Caddo Lake in 1911. The Ferry Lake No. 1 well, drilled by Gulf Refining Company, bottomed at 2,185 feet and produced 450 barrels per day.
- Location. Oil City sits on Louisiana Highway 1 north of Caddo Lake at about 203 feet, 21 miles from downtown Shreveport and 9 miles south of Vivian.
- Small town. Oil City had 901 residents in 2020, down from 1,008 in 2010, on about 1.86 square miles. Its old railroad depot briefly housed a community museum in 2025.
Oil City Questions
My old pecan drops big limbs. Should it come down?
Not necessarily. Pecans are known for dropping limbs, and many can be made safer by removing dead wood and reducing long, heavy limbs. If the trunk or base is decayed, removal may be the better choice.
There is old fence wire grown into my tree. Is that a problem?
It can be when the tree is cut, because metal damages saws and grinders. Let us know about it, and we will plan cuts around it.
Do you serve Oil City regularly?
Yes. Oil City is part of our north Caddo Parish service area, along with Vivian, Mooringsport and Hosston.
Can you grind a stump that has rocks or debris around it?
Usually, yes. We probe the area first and clear what we can. If there is hidden metal or concrete, we may stop at a shallower depth and tell you why.
Is late winter a good time to prune in Oil City?
Yes. Most hardwoods are dormant from December through February, the structure is easy to see without leaves, and the work is finished before spring storms move across the lake. Flowering trees like redbuds and dogwoods are the exception; prune those right after they bloom.
Free Estimates in Oil City, LA
Free estimates in Oil City and north Caddo Parish.
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