How to plant a tree
How to plant a Live Oak
Live Oaks are among the most beautiful and majestic trees in Texas. Some are known to be 500 years old. If you want to plant a tree that will be enjoyed for many generations that follow you, the Live Oak is a great choice and a good investment because it will add value to your property. Since a Live Oak is a significant investment it’s important to know how to plant them correctly unless you have a professional nursery deliver and plant a Live Oak for you. A 65 gallon container with a 9 to 11 foot tall Live Oak will cost about $500 delivered and planted for you or about $375 if you pick it up and plant it yourself.
Live Oaks are native to Texas and are found throughout central Texas to the Gulf Coast. Live Oaks have beautiful wide canopies with arching branches that tend to dip down towards the ground. Because of these dipping branches it’s important to prune or trim the branches that end up crossing over and rubbing each other from time to time so they don’t’ scrape the bark off each other and cause wounds.
Some unusual Live Oaks have some branches that spread outward with the rest on the ground. Live Oak have thick canopies with dark green leaves on top and with a lighter green color underneath. The leaves have a long oval shape and they are rigid and durable. Live Oak trees drop their leaves in the spring but quickly grow new leaves, making them appear evergreen. Younger Live Oak trees have smooth light gray bark while the bark on mature live oaks is a dark gray to even black with deep ridges and furrows. Besides shade one of the big advantages to planting a Live Oak is that you won’t risk your investment in a drought. The Live Oaks are amazing in that they have adapted to the central Texas environment. They are known for being drought resistant and grow best in our central Texas soil that is a mixture of clay, sand, and silt.
So now that you know what a Live Oak tree is and have decided to invest in one, let's talk about how to best plant a Live Oak.
When is the best time of the year to plant a Live Oak in central Texas?
We recommend planting Live Oaks in the spring when the weather starts to warm and the risk of frost is gone and in early fall after the extreme summer heat is over.
Although there are these two times a year when you can plant a new live oak in reality fall is the best time because the young trees need time to develop a healthy root system. If planted in the spring, we know in central Texas that even May can get very hot some years so the trees will be subjected to excessive heat and stress before they have time to spread their new roots out. When planted in the fall the young trees have much more time to put out new root growth without also growing new leaves. A young Live oak planted in the spring would need to use water and soil nutrients to grow both a new expanded root system and leaves. The roots can grow and spread out if the soil temperature is above 40 degrees. With our milder winters this should not be a problem. Where is the best place to plant a Live Oak tree?
Live Oaks do best in full sun. Make sure to place your live oak at least 20 feet away from your home or any structures you have or plan to have in your yard. Take note of any power lines and allow for plenty of clearance for when your tree one day has a 100-foot canopy.
How will a Live Oak tree change the appearance of my landscaping?
Live Oaks will grow to become large, majestic trees with large canopies. They will enhance the appearance of your landscaping, curb appeal, and value of your home. However, periodic trimming or pruning may be needed both for the health of the tree and to lift the canopy when the lower dipping branches and leaves start to obscure the exterior view of your home or the view from inside your home.
Live Oaks are native to Texas and are found throughout central Texas to the Gulf Coast. Live Oaks have beautiful wide canopies with arching branches that tend to dip down towards the ground. Because of these dipping branches it’s important to prune or trim the branches that end up crossing over and rubbing each other from time to time so they don’t’ scrape the bark off each other and cause wounds.
Some unusual Live Oaks have some branches that spread outward with the rest on the ground. Live Oak have thick canopies with dark green leaves on top and with a lighter green color underneath. The leaves have a long oval shape and they are rigid and durable. Live Oak trees drop their leaves in the spring but quickly grow new leaves, making them appear evergreen. Younger Live Oak trees have smooth light gray bark while the bark on mature live oaks is a dark gray to even black with deep ridges and furrows. Besides shade one of the big advantages to planting a Live Oak is that you won’t risk your investment in a drought. The Live Oaks are amazing in that they have adapted to the central Texas environment. They are known for being drought resistant and grow best in our central Texas soil that is a mixture of clay, sand, and silt.
So now that you know what a Live Oak tree is and have decided to invest in one, let's talk about how to best plant a Live Oak.
When is the best time of the year to plant a Live Oak in central Texas?
We recommend planting Live Oaks in the spring when the weather starts to warm and the risk of frost is gone and in early fall after the extreme summer heat is over.
Although there are these two times a year when you can plant a new live oak in reality fall is the best time because the young trees need time to develop a healthy root system. If planted in the spring, we know in central Texas that even May can get very hot some years so the trees will be subjected to excessive heat and stress before they have time to spread their new roots out. When planted in the fall the young trees have much more time to put out new root growth without also growing new leaves. A young Live oak planted in the spring would need to use water and soil nutrients to grow both a new expanded root system and leaves. The roots can grow and spread out if the soil temperature is above 40 degrees. With our milder winters this should not be a problem. Where is the best place to plant a Live Oak tree?
Live Oaks do best in full sun. Make sure to place your live oak at least 20 feet away from your home or any structures you have or plan to have in your yard. Take note of any power lines and allow for plenty of clearance for when your tree one day has a 100-foot canopy.
How will a Live Oak tree change the appearance of my landscaping?
Live Oaks will grow to become large, majestic trees with large canopies. They will enhance the appearance of your landscaping, curb appeal, and value of your home. However, periodic trimming or pruning may be needed both for the health of the tree and to lift the canopy when the lower dipping branches and leaves start to obscure the exterior view of your home or the view from inside your home.
How do I plant a Live Oak tree?
Now we have gotten to the fun part. Planting your live oak. Once you have you’ve determined the best spot for your new live oak it’s time to dig the hole. But before you start digging, call the national call-before-you-dig phone number 811 or visit the Texas 811 center’s website www.texas811.org before digging on your property to request that the location of buried utility lines be marked so that you don't dig into an underground utility line.
The last thing you want to do is spoil your tree planting fun by cutting off your cable T.V. and internet or other utility while trying to plant your new live oak.
Once the utilities have been marked and the spot you have chosen for the tree was not over one of them you are cleared to dig the hole.
The hole for a live oak needs to be at least twice as wide as the width of the root ball and no deeper than the height of the root ball. Leaving the top of the root ball about 1 inch above the top of the hole is the best practice and better than being too deep. Planting too deep is a common mistake that is easily avoidable.
Once you’ve dug your hole making sure it is wide enough to allow the roots to expand but not deeper than the height of the root ball you can place the tree in the middle of the hole. But before you place the tree in the hole here is a trick to keep the tree straight in the hole without having to use tree stakes and cables around the tree.
and fill the hole halfway up the root ball with the soil you removed. Soak the root ball and the soil around the root ball with water and wait a while to let the soil settle before completely filling the hole. Then soak the new soil and soil surrounding the hole. Buy 1 or 2 wooden broom handles from Home Depot or Lowes. Cut them to the width of the hole and then drive them through the root ball in a cross pattern to create a tree stand. This will stake the root ball in the hole and keeps the tree from falling over.
How often should I water a newly planted Live Oak tree in Central Texas?
Once you’ve finished planting your new live oak tree, water the root ball and surrounding area once a week for about 2 to 3 months. After that, you can water it every two weeks for another 2 to 3 months and then you can water once a month for the rest of the first year the tree is in the ground. After the first year, the tree will only need to be watered during periods of time of a month or more without rain. Fertilizer is not necessary and using too much can burn the new roots. If you think you need to use fertilizer, use it early in the spring and make sure not to use a lot.
Contact us if you have any questions
Thanks for visiting our page about how to plant a tree. If you still have questions or would like more information on caring for your trees, give us a call or fill out the form at the bottom of this page. We offer free estimates for all your tree service needs.
Now we have gotten to the fun part. Planting your live oak. Once you have you’ve determined the best spot for your new live oak it’s time to dig the hole. But before you start digging, call the national call-before-you-dig phone number 811 or visit the Texas 811 center’s website www.texas811.org before digging on your property to request that the location of buried utility lines be marked so that you don't dig into an underground utility line.
The last thing you want to do is spoil your tree planting fun by cutting off your cable T.V. and internet or other utility while trying to plant your new live oak.
Once the utilities have been marked and the spot you have chosen for the tree was not over one of them you are cleared to dig the hole.
The hole for a live oak needs to be at least twice as wide as the width of the root ball and no deeper than the height of the root ball. Leaving the top of the root ball about 1 inch above the top of the hole is the best practice and better than being too deep. Planting too deep is a common mistake that is easily avoidable.
Once you’ve dug your hole making sure it is wide enough to allow the roots to expand but not deeper than the height of the root ball you can place the tree in the middle of the hole. But before you place the tree in the hole here is a trick to keep the tree straight in the hole without having to use tree stakes and cables around the tree.
and fill the hole halfway up the root ball with the soil you removed. Soak the root ball and the soil around the root ball with water and wait a while to let the soil settle before completely filling the hole. Then soak the new soil and soil surrounding the hole. Buy 1 or 2 wooden broom handles from Home Depot or Lowes. Cut them to the width of the hole and then drive them through the root ball in a cross pattern to create a tree stand. This will stake the root ball in the hole and keeps the tree from falling over.
How often should I water a newly planted Live Oak tree in Central Texas?
Once you’ve finished planting your new live oak tree, water the root ball and surrounding area once a week for about 2 to 3 months. After that, you can water it every two weeks for another 2 to 3 months and then you can water once a month for the rest of the first year the tree is in the ground. After the first year, the tree will only need to be watered during periods of time of a month or more without rain. Fertilizer is not necessary and using too much can burn the new roots. If you think you need to use fertilizer, use it early in the spring and make sure not to use a lot.
Contact us if you have any questions
Thanks for visiting our page about how to plant a tree. If you still have questions or would like more information on caring for your trees, give us a call or fill out the form at the bottom of this page. We offer free estimates for all your tree service needs.
|