For a shade tree native to the United States, the live oak (Quercus virginiana) may be just what you’ve been looking for. Facts about the live oak tree can give you an idea of just how impressive this tree can be if you have it in your yard. There are 120 feet (36.5 meters) between the widest and tallest branches of this tree, which reaches a height of 60 feet (18.5 meters). There is a lot of useful information here about how to grow and maintain an oak tree.
What You Need to Know About Live Oaks
Consider the size, shape, and other live oak tree facts before deciding to plant one in your garden. The live oak tree looks like it belongs in the South, thanks to its deep, inviting shade. It is Georgia’s official state tree.
There is perfect symmetry, roundness, and density to this enormous tree’s crown A thick canopy of greenery forms and stays on the tree until the following spring when it begins to turn yellow and drop.
Aside from its aesthetic appeal, the live oak is a hardy, long-lived tree that can last for hundreds of years with proper planting and maintenance. Insects and infected pruning tools can spread the deadly oak wilt disease to the tree, putting it at risk.
Care for Live Oak
The live oak isn’t fussy about its environment, but its sprawling size can cause some damage to infrastructure if you don’t plan ahead. It’s not uncommon to see sidewalks being lifted by these massive beasts when they’re placed close to roads in the South. A little forethought is needed if you want to avoid this.
Setting up a pruning schedule will be the most difficult part of caring for a young southern live oak. This ensures that your tree will be able to withstand the next four to nine centuries with the proper structure and strength.
Light
The southern live oak, unlike most oaks, can tolerate some shade. Even in partial shade, this plant will perform well and not suffer. The only things that can cast a shadow on this tree are other live oaks or tall buildings, so this is an excellent example of how careful planning can help ensure that your tree has the best possible environment.
Soil
Soil alkalinity and moisture are not a problem for the southern live oak, which is highly adaptable. Even though it prefers acidic, well-draining soil, the tree is so adaptable that failure to meet these preferences has no negative consequences.
Water
To help your oak grow, you’ll need to water it every week after it’s been planted. Supplemental watering will not be an issue after the first few seasons. Using a caliper at knee height to measure 10 gallons per inch of trunk volume is a good starting point. After the first two years, you can stop watering your plants. There’s no need to be concerned about your live oak not getting enough water once it’s established.
Humidity and Temperature
As a southern tree, it thrives in the sweltering heat and humidity of the region and will die if it is forced to relocate elsewhere. Even though the temperature isn’t one of those conditions, it’s highly adaptable. If you live in a USDA Zone 8-10 area, you may want to consider a different tree for your landscape.
Fertilizer
In order to maintain your oak, you will not need to apply any additional fertilizer. It is important to conduct soil tests first to determine if the tree is suffering setbacks as a result of nutritional deficiencies, and then use a slow-release fertilizer formulated with the nutrients you need to remedy the situation. Most of the time, a general-purpose fertilizer is sufficient.
Southern Live Oak Pruning
It is absolutely essential that you begin pruning your live oak as soon as it is dormant in the spring of the following year (July to December). A single dominant leader branch should be established, and any later-growing branches should be removed from the tree after it has grown to about two-thirds of its height. Lifting the canopy is what you’re doing.
That way, large side branches won’t cross over each other and form a cluster or nest, making it difficult to get underneath the tree. For the first five years of the tree’s life, but this task on your calendar and plan to do it every five years until the tree reaches the age of 30. With regular pruning, you can keep the weight of the lateral branches from causing them to come into contact with the ground.
