Oak Trees

With an endless supply available from healthy oak trees, acorns symbolize prosperity and youthfulness – and it’s no wonder why they’ve become a go-to symbol of fall days to come. Acorns may be the first step in growing a 100-foot oak tree, but that’s not all you can use them for! 

In truth, fallen acorns are incredibly versatile. You can use acorns in arts and crafts, animal feeders, decorations, tablescapes, and even in recipes! You can grow an oak tree from an acorn, donate them to zoos and wildlife preserves, or use them in recipes as flour, coffee, or just plain roasted.

So without further adieu – grab those fall acorns, and let’s get going, because today, we are going to talk about 10 amazing fallen acorn uses and what to do with them! 

What Are Acorns?

Oak nuts, or commonly referred to as acorns, are the fruit of an oak tree. These little acorns are actually called fruits because they contain seeds and develop from the flower. 

Oak trees contain both female and male flowers, and when the flowers reproduce – they create an acorn. Oak trees can produce up to 1,000 acorns in a month’s time and 1,000,000 in a lifetime (sometimes even 10,000,000 for rare oak trees.) 

All oak trees make acorns, but it takes them at least 20 years to be able to develop them. It takes a Red Oak Tree two full years to make an acorn and a White Oak Tree one year to make an acorn. 

These fascinating little acorns provide nutrition to wildlife, and even today and in ancient times, to humans! An acorn itself is considered a superfood, especially for our wildlife. An acorn produces carbohydrates, fats, and proteins – all of which can provide nutrients to our wildlife.

Acorns also come in varieties. The acorns of a White Oak Tree are actually sweet, and the acorns of a Red Oak Tree are bitter.

Most animals prefer the White Oak Tree acorn’s taste when given a choice, but Red Oak Tree acorns become a necessary means of survival, as even though they may not taste so good to some animals – they are nutrient-dense. When food is scarce, both white and red acorns can keep animals alive. 

But let’s be real for a second here, when acorns are fallen in a forest, there really isn’t much you need to do – but when acorns are falling all over your property, they can be a hassle. 

Throwing out acorns can be disheartening, especially when you know how much it takes for one little acorn to come to life – so next time you find yourself cleaning up acorns, skip the trash can because there are a ton of things you can do with acorns instead! 

9 Amazing Fallen Acorn Uses

From crafting, to planting, to cooking, to donating – acorns have so many uses. Being that the prime acorn falling season is from early to late Fall, the time is now to grab those acorns and do something amazing with them! 

Use Acorns in Arts and Crafts

One of the best ways to give homage to acorns is to craft with them. Little kids love acorns, and whether you want to make some after-school crafts, or even if you’re a teacher and want some free crafting supplies if you just want to make something special for yourself – acorns are a great crafting material.

Small enough and with abundance, you can glue acorns to wooden frames, paint the acorns itself and add string to make little ornaments for the holidays, or for now, or you can string them together to make acorn garland, or you can even take the caps of acorns and fill them with candle wax and a wick to make little acorn tea-light candles! 

The thing with crafting with acorns is that the ideas are limitless, and the more creative you are with your acorn crafts, the better. Acorns can be added to almost any fall craft! 

Grow an Oak Tree From an Acorn 

Besides just using them to create something else, you can also use acorns for one of their intended purposes – to grow an oak tree.

To grow an oak tree from an acorn, there are a few steps to take: 

1. Collect your acorns – preferably in the Fall.
   
2. Remove the Cap of the Acorn – the cap is like a protective covering to the seed inside the shell. 
   
3. Do a Float Test – place your collected acorns in water, and if the acorn floats, it’s a quick way to tell that it is no good! It’s important to understand that not all acorns grow into an oak tree. Also, get rid of any soft-to-the-touch acorns. 
   
4. Refrigerate the Acorns – after picking out the good ones, put them all into a plastic bag, and make them hibernate. The cool air will mimic the naturally cold conditions that occur outside – which will help them germinate. 
   
5. Once you see them germinate, or after 40-45 days, plant the acorn in a pot! 
   
6. Once you start to see a sapling – it’s time to plant your acorn into the location you want to grow an oak tree.
   
7. Make sure to water your new oak seedling!

If you’re interested in planting an oak tree from an acorn, check out our guide on how long it takes to grow an oak tree here.

Use Acorns in Animal Feeders 

If you have an abundance of acorns, a great way to use them would be to collect them and use them in animal feeders!

Squirrels, birds, turkeys, rabbits, and almost 100 other varieties of wildlife love acorns, and acorns are a staple part of their diet. If you have acorns that you need to pick up and get rid of (rather than throwing them in the trash), fill your animal feeders and help supply our wildlife with something to eat! 

Filling animal feeders with acorns can help you and your outdoor spaces in a few ways.

If you are having any sort of animal issue in your outdoor space, a quick way to direct the animals elsewhere would be to have a feeder – this way; they aren’t scurrying through your gardens and plants to find food.  

A feeder can also keep animals in trees and branches and away from your lawns or too close to the house. 

Donate Acorns to Zoos and Wildlife Preserves

If feeders aren’t for you and you are getting rid of your acorns, consider donating them to a zoo or wildlife preservation center. 

Acorns are free food for so many animals – and they really do love them! Before you get rid of the acorns, consider bringing them to a zoo or wildlife preservation so the animals can be fed an extra-special acorn treat!

On the plus side, even if the zoo does not decide to feed the acorns to the animals, they can also use them in community classes. Think arts and crafts, educational purposes, etc.

Donate Acorns to Organizations 

For crafts and educational purposes – donating acorns to organizations like Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, Parks and Recreation groups, or even schools or other educational services can be a great way to use those fallen acorns.

Especially in the month of October and November, acorns are plentiful, and since they are great free materials for arts and crafts, you can try donating them to an organization or educational program! 

If you’re a teacher yourself or know a teacher – ask them if they’d like the extra acorns for a class project! It’s nice to put some of nature’s finest attributes to good use! 

Sell Acorns Online or at Farmers Markets

Believe it or not, you can actually sell your acorns on online shopping platforms.

There is actually an acorn selling market out there – and people will buy them if they need them.

Although oak trees are common in many parts of the USA, not everyone has an oak tree, and if they do, not everyone has an oak tree that is mature enough to make acorns. People actually use acorns for cooking, crafting, or even, if they want to grow an oak tree themselves, and will buy them!

Many hunters actually use acorns as bait – and will buy acorns in bulk for that specific reason. 

Use Acorns as Decorations

Another great way to use acorns is to decorate your house with them and use acorns as decorations!

If you have some decorative vases around your home, or even glass votives and candle holders, filling your home decor with acorns can be the perfect touch for Fall! It is an easy and free way to add those authentic-fall small touches around your home to welcome the chilly season!

Fall is an amazing season, and we love to make our homes feel cozy for it. Sometimes, all it takes to welcome the cozy weather into your home is to bring the outside in – and add real and natural touches to your indoor spaces. 

Make a Fall Acorn Tablescape

Continuing with the decorating tips – you can use acorns for your tablescapes this Fall.

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving or have your dining room tables decorated for Fall, using acorns almost like confetti laid out on your tables – can help make the perfect fall tablescape. 

A lot of times, you may have a table runner on your table, and it seems to be missing that extra touch – adding some acorns into the mix can be just the thing you need! 

Roast Fallen Oak Acorns 

Acorns can never be eaten raw; however, roasting them is a whole other story. The first step to using acorns in cooking is to first leach them. 

The leaching process consists of first shelling the acorns and then placing the seeds in boiling water. Once the water gets brown, drain out the water and add new water. Keep repeating the process until the water is completely clear. When the water is clear – then you know they are ready to be used in cooking! 

How to Clean Up Acorns Outdoors 

Now that we’ve shared all the amazing ways you can use fallen acorns – the most important thing that we have to discuss is how to collect acorns in the first place!

Depending on the number of acorns you need to clean up will decide the best tool. Of course, you can always go in with your hands to collect a few – but if you have more than one matured oak tree, there’s a good chance you can have upwards of one thousand acorns, and in this case, it’s probably easier to use a tool meant to pick up acorns! 

If you have a few acorn-making oak trees on your property, you can try the Garden Weasel, which is a tool that rolls and requires no bending whatsoever! The tool will suck the acorns up and any other small objects just by simply rolling them. 

If you have a ton of acorns and have a lot of mature oak trees around, you may opt for something more commercial like the Bag-A-Nut 12 inch Small Acorn Harvester.

That’s a Wrap! 

Acorns are one of the world’s most amazing and tiniest creations. All the things that have to go right to make one single acorn, and all the time that is needed, is absolutely amazing to think about. 

The fact that we often just get rid of acorns can be disheartening since they do so much for our wildlife and can even be used by us in many ways as well! 

Whether you are a crafter, want to take care of wildlife, want to cook, or even if you want to make some extra money – fallen acorns have so many amazing uses that we hope you try! 

Did you know that acorns aren’t the only tree that produces unusual fruits? You can read more about the trees that have acorns and what to do with them here.

References:

Siscart, D., Diego, V., & Lloret, F. (1999). Acorn ecology. In Ecology of Mediterranean evergreen oak forests (pp. 75-87). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.

Goodrum, P. D., Reid, V. H., & Boyd, C. E. (1971). Acorn yields, characteristics, and management criteria of oaks for wildlife. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 520-532.

Koenig, W. D., Mumme, R. L., Carmen, W. J., & Stanback, M. T. (1994). Acorn production by oaks in central coastal California: variation within and among years. Ecology, 75(1), 99-109.

The mighty oak tree is one of the most well-known and sought-after trees for the yard. They provide shade for backyard barbecues, shelter, and food for woodland critters, and some turn beautiful colors in the fall. But what about the downsides of an oak tree? In what different ways can oak trees cause damage?

Some of the ways oak trees can cause damage include cracking foundations and sidewalks, causing damage to powerlines, attracting lightning, and causing damage to roofing. Mature oak trees over 20 years old are likely to cause the most damage due to their height and the length of their root systems.

Read on to find out all the different ways that oak trees can cause damage. We’ll also talk about some ways you can prevent or mitigate this damage so you can enjoy your stately oak tree for years to come!

Ways That Oak Trees Can Cause Damage

Let’s jump right into it! Oak trees can be wonderful to have in your yard. They’re often pretty to look at, tall, and the perfect centerpiece for your landscaping.

But sometimes, oak trees can cause damage to your home, and you won’t even know it until it’s too late. You don’t actually have to have an oak tree in your yard for it to cause damage.

If you live in an urban environment and your neighbor or the park nearby has an oak tree, there could be trouble lurking below. 

Let’s take a look at the different ways oak trees can cause damage.

Damage To Sidewalks and Foundations

If you’ve ever walked down the sidewalk in a neighborhood or city, you’ve probably noticed some cracks and flaws in the sidewalk.

There are many reasons that a sidewalk might crack: the soil might simply settle and cause cracks, water may erode the concrete, or the sidewalk may have been put over the wrong type of soil (clay or sand, for example).

Another reason that sidewalks crack? Roots. Roots are an essential part of the tree, but because you can’t see them, they’re often forgotten about.

Most tree root systems are located 6-18 inches beneath the surface. This is just deep enough to remain unseen but shallow enough to cause problems above.

As the tree grows, so does its root system. The roots will continue to push outward in the soil, searching for nutrients and water sources to supply the rest of the tree. As the roots reach out to new soil, they can sometimes push into sidewalks and foundations.

How to Prevent Oak Tree Damage to Sidewalks and Foundations

To prevent roots from damaging sidewalks or foundations, you can purchase something like DeepRoot Tree Root Barriers. These come in a variety of sizes to fit any size tree. This product encourages roots to grow downward instead of outward, decreasing the chance of them damaging sidewalks and foundations.

A quick side note, while oak trees do cause damage, they are also great for the planet. You can read more about how oak trees are amazing for the environment here.

Falling Trees Can Damage Homes & Power Lines

This one may seem obvious. Of course, falling trees can damage homes and power lines, right? The problem with oak trees is that they are large trees compared to some other species, and they are susceptible to certain diseases that can cause them to topple over prematurely.

Some oak trees like the Laurel Oak, Red Oak, and Water Oak can grow up to 100’ at full maturity. That’s a big tree! 

As you can imagine, it would take a heck of a storm to knock such a massive tree over. But storms aren’t all you need to be worried about with toppling trees. Just like people, trees can become sick too. Pathogens and disease can affect oak trees, making the trunk and branches weak. 

Oak wilt, for example, will start on one branch of an oak tree but quickly spreads to the rest of the tree. Eventually, this disease will cause the tree to die, making its branches (or even the whole tree) more susceptible to falling.

One study from Environmental Management found that in a single county, the cost of removing oak trees affected by oak wilt was estimated to be in the wheelhouse of $18-$60 million over a decade-long period!

One of the biggest problems with oak tree diseases is that they can actually spread to other trees. When oaks are establishing their roots, if they are growing next to the same type of tree, they may graft their roots together for better survival chances.

If you’re interested, you can read about the most common oak tree diseases here.

The merging of these roots means that as soon as one tree is sick, the other is likely to contract the same illness. Some insects and other pests can also spread these pathogens. 

An oak tree cannot choose where and when it falls, and sometimes rooftops and powerlines happen to be in the path.

How to Prevent Oak Trees From Damaging Home & Power Lines

If you are planting an oak tree or building a house near an oak tree, be sure to give yourself enough space and try to realize its eventual mature height—at least 20 feet. Pruning is usually not necessary for oak trees, but if you notice any wilting or damaged leaves, try to prune them to contain any sicknesses. 

If you’re sure the tree is dead or dying, don’t wait to remove it! Get it done as soon as possible to prevent further damage from falling limbs.

Oak Tree Shade Can Prevent Other Plant Growth

Oak trees are known for providing tons of shade. In some instances, such as coastal live oaks, the trees may grow wider than they are tall, providing a wide area of shade.

Unfortunately for sun-loving plants, thriving next to an oak tree can be nearly impossible. If the grass isn’t already established under an oak tree, it can be tough to try to establish growth. And forget about planting any full-sun annuals at the base of an oak tree!

How to Encourage Plant Growth Near Oak Trees

If you’ve got a green thumb and you’re crafty with landscaping, you may be thinking of planting pretty flowers in some mulch at the base of your oak tree. Or maybe your oak tree throws some shade over your beautiful flowerbed.

No need to fret! There’s plenty of shade annuals you can plant that are still colorful and attractive, even without the sunshine! Many types of impatiens and begonias thrive in partial- to full-shade and come in a variety of colors.

If you’re having trouble establishing grass beneath your oak tree, try planting some shade-tolerant grass-like Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Dense Shade Mix. This particular mix can grow in as little as 3 hours of sun per day. 

Be sure to pick the seed that’s right for your growing zone. This mix will only grow in transition zones.

Oak Trees Can Attract Lightning Strikes

Have you ever been told never to stand under a tree during a lightning storm? It’s for a good reason! Lightning tends to strike the tallest thing in the area, and, as we said before, oak trees can grow pretty tall.

If you’re inside your house and far away from any oak trees, you may be safe from the lightning, but your water pipes and electrical control boxes are not.

Remember how we mentioned before that oak tree roots grow to try to find as many nutrients and water as possible? Occasionally, roots will find their way into the water line or sewer system.

This can be a problem, especially when oak trees are the most popular tree for lightning strikes, according to Iowa State University. In fact, oak trees were struck by lightning about 200 more times than the next most popular lightning rod tree, the poplar tree.

Besides the damage from falling debris and possible fires that are caused by lightning striking trees, we have to consider where all that energy goes after it strikes the tree: Into the roots.

If a tree’s root system is touching or wrapped around a water line, the escaping energy can cause the water line to burst. Additionally, the electricity may ride along the water line until it reaches a control box and damages those too.

Trees touching or wrapped around sewer lines can cause similar problems that often require costly repairs and can leave homes without water for extended periods.

All in all, NOT the best situation to be in.

What to Do If Your Oak Tree Is Struck by Lightning

If your oak tree has been struck by lightning, assess the damage. If the damage is only to one side, the chances of the tree recovering are pretty good. You can prune the good side of the tree to help balance the tree out, but it’s a good idea to wait a few weeks to make sure the tree will recover.

Sometimes a tree that is struck by lightning will not show any outward damage aboveground. However, below the surface, the roots may have been damaged. If you notice leaves are beginning to die off and fall off the tree, watch the progress closely. The tree may recover, but if no new leaves form in the spring, the tree is probably not recoverable.

Our last tip is to help your tree recover faster by watering it and using fertilizer. This will help reduce the stress on the tree to find nutrients and recover from its wound. Healthy oaks do not need watering or fertilizer, but it’s a good practice for injured oaks.

Additionally, if you’re finding your tree roots are causing a mess underneath the ground, you can actually use vinegar to remove the tree roots.

Oaks Cause Yard Litter

Oak trees grow from acorns, and when the trees mature enough, they begin producing their own acorns.

The number of acorns produced from a single oak tree can vary widely from year to year. Some years there can be thousands of acorns in your yard from a single tree; other times, only a few. 

Nonetheless, acorns and fallen twigs and branches can damage your lawn by covering the grass and creating unpleasant aesthetics.

This one may not bother you as much, especially if you enjoy watching little critters scurrying around your yard. But, if you live in a homeowner’s association, keeping up with the yard litter can be trying.

Preventing Oak Tree Yard Litter

Unfortunately, it’s hard to prevent trees from dropping their acorns! You can prevent some of the smaller twigs that are cut by squirrels by deterring those pesky critters before they make your oak tree their home.

Are Oak Trees Bad For Houses?

Now that all the downsides of an oak tree are laid out, you may be having second thoughts about planting one in your yard. 

So, are oak trees bad for the home?

Oak trees are not bad for houses. All trees come with their own pros and cons. Ash and poplar trees are often cited as causing damage to home foundations, just like the mighty oak. Similarly, willow and elm trees are often susceptible to lightning strikes.

It’s all about what you want in a tree. If you’re looking for a large shade tree that’s going to be around for decades or centuries, the oak tree is a great choice! But there’s nothing wrong with a maple tree, with its distinctive leaves and helicopter-like fruits that float through the air each spring.

If you’re interested in planting an oak tree, check out our guide on the best places to plant an oak tree here.

How far Away From A House Should An Oak Tree Be?

Oak trees in the yard provide several benefits to the homeowner. They improve the scenery, are constant yet ever-changing throughout each season, and most importantly, they provide shade, shelter, and privacy to the homeowner.

The placement of the oak tree in relation to the home is important. 

To provide the best shade and maximize its use, planting a tree in the southwest corner of the house is the best location, according to the University of Missouri.

In terms of distance from the house, large trees should be planted at least 20 feet from your home and no less than 5 feet from any sidewalk. You should also make sure that the tree does not hang over your house or any often-used walkways.

Additionally, we wrote a guide on if whether or not you should plant an oak tree in your backyard.

Are Oak Trees Bad For Grass?

Oak trees are known for providing tons of shade on a hot summer day, but not all grasses are okay with growing in the shade. Will an oak tree kill your grass?

It can be difficult to establish grass beneath an oak tree if it is fully mature. Many natural types of grass need at least partial sun to grow properly and photosynthesize. However, not all grasses need tons of sunlight.

As we mentioned before, there is grass seed out there that can work with as little as 3 hours of sun per day. 

If grass is already established beneath your oak tree, try lifting your mower deck a little higher when cutting the grass within the tree’s spread (shade). Leaving the grass a little higher will help it reach any available sunlight.

Another problem with grass and oak trees is the competition for nutrients. When an oak is first growing, grass can sometimes out-compete the tiny tree for nutrients. But when a mighty oak is established, the tables will turn, and the grass can find itself scrambling to get enough nutrients.

It’s not a great idea to try to fertilize the grass as this can actually hurt an established oak tree. The best solution is to keep the grass a little higher than normal and let it thrive on its own. If it doesn’t seem to be working, try using a shade-tolerant grass seed instead.

Wrapping Things Up

Having oak trees in your yard and landscape can have tons of benefits for your home. It can frame your house, provide shade to lower utility bills, raise the value of your property, and be a nice-looking piece in your yard.

But oak trees can also create problems for your home. To recap, some of the ways that oak trees can cause damage include:

• Cracking the foundation of your home
• Cracking sidewalks 
• Falling branches and trees can damage roofs 
• Falling branches and trees can damage power lines nearby
• Oak trees can prevent sun-loving plants from growing
• Damage to waterlines via roots or lightning strikes
• Fire damage due to lightning strikes
• Sewer line damage due to roots or lightning strikes
• Yard litter from acorns and snipped branches

You can prevent or minimize the damage done by oak trees by knowing all the different ways they can cause damage and being prepared for each one.

Hopefully, after reading this article, you have a better understanding of all the different ways oak trees can cause damage, and how to prevent it so you can enjoy these lovely trees for years to come.

References

Haight, R. G., Homans, F. R., Horie, T., Mehta, S. V., Smith, D. J., & Venette, R. C. (2011). Assessing the cost of an invasive forest pathogen: a case study with oak wilt. Journal of Environmental Management, 47, 506-517.

Kovacs, K., Vaclavik, T., Haight, R. G., Pang, A., Cunniffe, N. J., Gilligan, C. A., & Meentemeyer, R. K. (2011, April). Predicting the economic costs and property value losses attributed to sudden oak death damage in California (2010-2020). Journal of Environmental Management, 92(4), 1292-1302.

McPherson, G. E., & Peper, P. P. (2012, March 27). Costs of street tree damage to infrastructure. The International Journal of Urban Forestry, 20(2), 143-160.

Red Oak trees are one of the most beautiful and abundant trees in the United States of America. With their vibrant red-colored autumn leaves and their beautiful built and canopies – Red Oak trees are an absolute sight to see.

There are so many incredible facts about Red Oak Trees. Their wood is porous, Red Oak Trees are more abundant than White Oak Trees, they can grow up to 80ft tall, have bitter acorns and don’t produce acorns until they’re at least 20 years old!

If you want to learn some amazing facts about Red Oak Trees – keep on reading, because we have the facts coming!

1. Red Oak Trees Are Named After Their Vibrant Fall Colors

First things first, Red Oak Trees are named after their beautiful, vibrant fall colors – and you guessed it – Red Oak Trees’ autumn color is red!

Red Oak Trees maintain their beautiful red fall colors longer than most deciduous trees. Fading to reds and oranges and sometimes browns, most Red Oak Trees are red, and they surely will wow you!

It is said that the Red Oak Tree has the best fall color – and listen, we love all trees, but we may be a little biased when it comes to Red Oak – since Red Oak Trees are just that beautiful in the fall.

2. Red Oak Trees Have Red Wood

Along with their red fall leaves, Red Oak Trees also provide red-toned wood.

The sapwood of a Red Oak Tree is a white to light brown, and the heartwood is a redder color, mixed with pink and brown.

Red Oak Tree wood is very much comparable to a White Oak Tree’s wood; however, a Red Oak has a much more coarse texture and smaller rays.

3. Red Oak Trees Are Porous

Another attribute to why Red Oak Tree’s wood burns faster is because Red Oak is porous.

Red Oaks are porous, which means more water can get into the wood, which also means it is better used indoors!

Red Oak Trees drink a lot of water and take longer to dry because of this. Since the dry time is longer, although they burn for a shorter period of time, the seasoning of the firewood takes up to 3 years.

4. Red Oak is Used in Our Kitchens

Since Red Oak Trees are more porous, they are typically used for construction purposes for the interiors of our homes.

Red Oak Tree wood is commonly used in the construction of our kitchen cabinets and hardwoods.

Do you know when the cabinet designer sells you on the upscale oak cabinets rather than those particleboard ones? Well, the truth is – it’s not just to make the seller more money – Red Oak is actually a really durable, strong, long-lasting cabinet option!

Although porous, Red Oak is also used outdoors in fencing and rail-road ties. Because it is less dense than White Oak, Red Oak Tree wood provides a better recoil – which is why it is used for certain outdoor structures.

5. Shiplap is Made of Red Oak

We all know how popular shiplap is, right? It’s arguably one of the most popular design trends of the decade, and of course, there are many different options to use, but Red Oak is definitely one of the best!

Red Oak Tree wood is perfect for shiplap because of its great sanding, painting, and staining capabilities.

Since it is dense but not too dense like White Oak, Red Oak can be used in planks as a shiplap on your wall and will not be too heavy for the wall to hold. It is also family-friendly, as it is durable and can be easily touched up when needed.

Red Oak Tree wood also has a beautifully knotty finish – which gives some great character to the planks before you even add your design touch to them!

6. Ohio Holds the Largest Red Oak Tree

That’s right – the Buckeye State is also home to the largest Champion Red Oak Tree, which is the largest known red oak tree in the entire country!

With a trunk circumference of 337 inches, a height of 92 feet, and a crown spread of 103 feet, this gargantuan Red Oak Tree took the title of champion (largest red oak tree) in 2019.

7. Red Oak Trees Can Live for Five Centuries

Yes, you read that right – Red Oak Trees can live up to 500 years old; however, they really only do well for 150 years and start to deteriorate thereafter.

Each time a Red Oak Tree is planted, it has the potential to last through a half-century worth of history. Although most do not, there is one that has surpassed life expectancy three-fold.

You can learn more about how long common oak trees live here.

8. Red Oak Tree Firewood Burns Faster Than White Oak Tree Wood

When compared to a White Oak Tree, a Red Oak Trees firewood burns much faster. Now, is this a pro or con? Well – that’s up to you!

Since Red Oak firewood is less dense than White Oak firewood, it burns for shorter periods of time. Red Oak Tree is still considered one of the best firewood there is; however, it will burn for a shorter amount of time.

The thing that makes this a personal preference is whether or not you have the time to watch a White Oak Tree firewood burn until it puts itself out, or do you want to go with a wood that burns a little faster like the Red Oak Tree wood?

However, white oak is actually the better firewood overall. You can learn more about why White Oak is better than Red Oak Tree firewood here.

9. The Oldest Living Red Oak Tree May Be 1500 Years Old

I say it can be because no one’s really sure of its age, but it is definitely known to be at least 800 years old, and at most, 1500 years old.

The Pechanga Great Oak Tree is the oldest living Red Oak Tree, and it is located in Temecula, California. The Pechanga Great Oak Tree has a circumference of 20 feet and is nearly 100 feet tall.

Still alive today, this Red Oak Tree is located right along the borders of the land granted to the Pechanga people in 1882. The Red Oak Tree was part of a purchase deal in 2001 by a Pechanga Tribe.

The Pechanga Great Oak Tree produces acorns every 2-3 years, and to this day, when the acorns fall to the floor, they are collected and put into pots. People call them the children of this amazing Red Oak Tree.

10. There Are More States That Have Red Oak Trees Than White Oak Trees

Unlike the White Oak Tree, a Red Oak Tree’s span is much larger, and a Red Oak Tree is seen in way more states than a White Oak Tree.

A Red Oak Tree is native to North America and can be seen all the way in the western states like California, to the central states like Kansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota, and eastern states such as Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, and all along the east coast up to North Carolina. 

11. Northern Red Oak is The New Jersey State Tree

With its large national span, the Red Oak Tree is also the national tree for the eastern state of New Jersey.

In 1950 the Red Oak was deemed the National State Tree of New Jersey by the governor and the state assembly. They chose this tree because it signified strength, dignity, structural beauty, and long life.

In New Jersey, the largest Red Oak Tree is located in Warren County near the Musconetcong River, with a circumference of 20 feet.

12. Red Oak Trees Resist Salt in The Winter

Usually, in the suburbs, if you live in an area where there are sidewalks and grass in the front of your house – Red Oak Trees are the perfect tree to plant alongside the street.

Red Oak Trees resist the salt used on the roads and sidewalks during the winter for snowmelt, making it a perfect sidewalk tree in the states that get tough winters!

13. A Red Oak Tree is Called the Mighty Oak

A Red Oak Tree holds the nickname the Mighty Oak because of its extremely deep root system and fast-growing nature.

The Mighty Oak is considered mighty because it grows tall and straight and is one of the only trees that can grow a 30-foot trunk before branches start to form on it! Sounds pretty mighty to us.

14. Red Oak Trees Are The Most Important Timber Tree

A Red Oak Tree grows so fast that it is one of the most important trees that are used for timber.

Since you can plant a Red Oak tree and see significant growth in a few years’ time, the tree is often used as a construction material – with cabinets, veneers, flooring, interior trim, and furniture.

15. Red Oak Trees Are Easy to Stain

Red Oak Tree wood is commonly used in the furniture-making business because of how easy it is to paint and stain!

Since the Red Oak Tree wood is porous, stain gets deep into the wood, leaving it with lasting color for years and years to come.

A porous wood is great for staining and sealing, and because it is more cost-effective than white oak, it is commonly used in fencing and decks because of its ability to be customized with stain and paint.

If you’d like to learn more about white oak trees, you can check out our white oak tree fact list here.

16. Red Oaks Tolerate Shade And Grow Best in Full Sun

If you see a small red oak tree in the shade, the chance of it being a few decades old is actually possible.

Red Oak Trees like the shade; they really do – but they won’t grow to their highest potentials unless they have full sun. Once Red Oak Trees get a taste of the sun, they start to rapidly grow to those impressively tall heights that we love.

17. Red Oak Trees Can Grow to The Size of 65 Bowling Pins Stacked on Top of Each Other

Red Oak Trees can grow up to 80 feet – the size of 65 bowling pins stacked on top of each other! However, in order to grow to these amazing heights – they need a few things!

Red Oak Trees need a ton of sun to grow, love loamy and moist soil, and love moisture!

18. Red Oak Trees Grow At Least 2ft Per Year

The truth is – Red Oak Trees just grow really fast.

Red Oak Trees can grow more than two feet each year and can hit up to three feet in a year’s time. A Red Oak Tree will continue to grow at that rate for at least the first 20 years until it starts to reach mature heights from 60-75 feet.

19. The Bark of Red Oak Trees Have Zebra Stripes

Okay, not actual zebra stripes, but the bark of the Red Oak tree contains irregular shiny stripes that do resemble the stripes of a zebra!

Unique to the Red Oak Tree, the shiny stripes intertwined in the fissures of the dark and ashy colored bark are a key way to identify a Red Oak Tree.

Like the bark of a Red Oak Tree ages, the bark develops furrows that alternate with the ridges. They will almost look like cracks in the bark.

20. A Red Oak Tree’s Acorns Are a Superfood

Acorns are the fruit of the Red Oak Tree. Although technically a nut, the Red Oak Tree produces up to 1,000 acorns a month and up to 1,000,000 in the entire lifetime of the tree!

A Red Oak Tree’s Acorns are considered a superfood, especially for our wildlife. An acorn produces carbohydrates, fats, and proteins – all of which can provide nutrients to our wildlife and providing nutrition to our earliest ancestors.

22. A Red Oak Tree’s Acorns Are Bitter

Compared to a White Oak Tree’s Acorns, a Red Oak Tree has bitter-tasting acorns.

The acorns from Red Oak Trees are higher in tannic acid than those from white oak trees, which makes them bitter for deer and less desirable than the white oak acorns.

However, this quality serves an important purpose for the acorns of the Red Oak Tree – it makes them stay viable for longer. Fewer animals go for them, which means more are readily available.

If you’re interested, you can learn more about the major differences between Red Oak Trees and White Oak Trees here.

23. Blue Jays Love Red Oak Trees And Plant Them Each Year

Blue Jays, like squirrels, are scattered hoarders. This means that when finding food, these birds bury their excess stash in a variety of different places until they can return to eat it!

Blue jays, which have an affinity towards Red Oak Tree acorns, tend to collect more food than they can eat and unintentionally plant Red Oak Trees each time they bury an extra acorn!

24. Red Oak Trees Are Easy to Transplant

Red Oak Trees are preferred by landscapers nationwide for their ease of transplant.

If you need to transplant a Red Oak Tree, the best time would be in the Spring, when the plant is coming out of its dormant stage and starting to bloom.

During the Spring, you don’t have to worry about extreme temperatures that will add extra shock to the tree, as being transplanted will be shocking enough.

25. A Black Oak Tree is Actually a Red Oak Tree

One of the wildest Red Oak Trees is the Black Oak Tree!

Since the Black Oak Tree has a very dark, almost black bark, it’s been given the name Black Oak. But the interesting thing is, the bark of the inside of a Black Oak Tree is not what you think – it’s actually a yellow/orange color.

Still considered a Red Oak Tree because of its distinctly pointed lobed leaves, a Black Oak Tree is a true phenomenon.

26. A Red Oak Tree Has Pointed Lobed Leaves

One distinct feature of oak trees, in general, is their lobed leaves! However, a Red Oak Tree has pointed lobed leaves, where a White Oak Tree has rounded!

The leaves of Red Oak Tree have 7 to 11 pointed, waxy lobes and are a dark green color. The bottoms of the leaves have tiny hairs that run along large leaf veins. Overall, a Red Oak Tree’s leaves are very thin.

27. Deer Love Red Oak Trees

Red Oak Trees are so important for deer nutrition, and the Red Oak Trees often fill the gaps when there is not enough food available for deer and other animals. 

Although deer prefer the sweeter acorns like in White Oak, compared to the bitter acorns in Red Oak Trees, they are a source of nutrition for deer when other food is not available.

While White Oak Tree acorns will decay and rot away fairly quickly, Red Oak Tree Acorns will remain edible for far longer, making them an important part of deer nutrition.

28. Red Oak Trees Don’t Produce Acorns Until 20 Years Old

Red Oak Trees don’t start producing acorns until they are about 20 years old. Peak production of acorns doesn’t start until the Red Oak Tree is 50-70 years old, and then, around 80 years old, acorn production slows down.

However, just because the Red Oak tree is producing acorns doesn’t mean that the acorns are a good crop! Every 4-10 years is when a Red Oak tree produces a quality acorn, as it takes about 18 months to 2 years for each acorn to grow. 

29. Red Oak Trees Are Monoecious

In Spring, a Red Oak Tree produces both male and female flowers. The male flowers produce the pollen, and the female flowers produce the eggs.

The male flowers are called Catkins and are derived from the Dutch word katteken. The word kattekan means kitten, and the Catkins are arranged in drooping clusters, which actually resemble that of a cat’s tail.

Red Oaks Are Amazing

This isn’t an opinion; it’s a fact – because Red Oak Trees are truly amazing. With their vibrant colors, their abundance of fruit, with astronomical heights, with all their uses for people and animals, and more, Red Oaks are a one-of-a-kind tree.

You can learn more about the amazing ways that oak trees help the environment here.

References:

Carreiro, M. M., Howe, K., Parkhurst, D. F., & Pouyat, R. V. (1999). Variation in quality and decomposability of red oak leaf litter along an urban-rural gradient. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 30(3), 258-268.

Department of Environmental Protection, https://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/forest/red_oak.htm#:~:text=Department%20of%20Environmental%20Protection&text=Governor%20Alfred%20E.,structural%20beauty%2C%20and%20long%20life.

“Home.” Pechanga Band, https://www.pechanga-nsn.gov/index.php/history/the-great-oak.

Quercus Alba L, https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_2/quercus/alba.htm

Sander, I. L. (1990). Quercus rubra L. Northern red oak. Silvics of North America, 2, 727-733.

Today, we’re talking about one of our favorites; the White Oak Tree!

There are so many incredible facts about White Oak Trees that we don’t even realize. Did you know that white oak trees have to be 20 years old to produce acorns? Drumsticks are even made from White Oak Trees!

Okay, lets get to it. Here are 31 incredible facts about White Oak Trees.

1. The Tallest White Oak Was The Size of 12 African Elephants Stacked

Yup, it’s true. The Tallest White Oak Tree was 44 meters, which is 145 feet, which is about the same size as 12 African Elephants standing on top of each other!

2. The Tallest White Oak Tree Was Called The Mingo Oak And Lived Until 1938

The Mingo Oak was an oak tree that is considered to have been the tallest White Oak tree to ever live. Standing at 145 feet tall, the Mingo Oak lived an impressive 582 years old when it was cut down. I know – who would cut it down? It, unfortunately, suffered from fumes from burning coal refuse.

The Mingo Oak Tree’s estimated seedling date is from 1354 AD – how amazing is that? This tree stood tall for 422 years before America was even founded.

3. The Average Oak Tree Lifespan is 300 Years

That’s right. White oak trees can live for quite sometime.

On average, White Oak Trees live about 300 years, with a maximum lifespan of up to 600 years. The only other oak tree that lives longer than a White Oak Tree is the Southern Live Oak Tree species, which can live up to 1000 years.

You can read more about the full lifespan of oak trees here.

4. A White Oak Tree is Monoecious

In Spring, a White Oak Tree produces both male and female flowers – which is very unlikely in the flowering plant kingdom.

The male flowers produce the pollen, and the female flowers produce the eggs. However, the truth is, the male flower of the White Oak Tree doesn’t always fertilize the female flower. Since a White Oak Tree is very wind-pollinated, the female is often pollinated from another tree!

5. White Oak Trees Produce Fruits Called Acorns

Yes, you heard that right – although a nut, acorns are the fruit of an oak tree!

All types of oak trees produce acorns; however, the acorns differ from oak tree to oak tree.

Acorns hold the seeds that will grow new oak trees. And believe it or not, all it takes is one single acorn to grow an entire oak tree. The acorns falling to the ground are part of the life cycle, as they will eventually grow new oak trees!

If you’re interested in all the trees that produce acorns, you can learn more about oak trees and acorns here.

6. White Oak Trees Have to Be 20 Years Old to Grow Acorns

If you see acorns on your nearby oak trees – there is a good chance that it is already 20 years old! It takes about 20 years for a White Oak Tree to start producing acorns.

When they start producing acorns, a White Oak Tree takes one whole year to grow that acorn. In a year’s time, a White Oak Tree can produce up to 12,000 acorns – 1,000 a month – and its entire lifetime, up to 1,000,000!

7. A White Oak Tree’s Acorns Are Sweet

As opposed to a Red Oak Tree – a White Oak Tree produce sweeter acorns! However, it is unsafe to ever eat the seeds from a raw acorn.

Acorns are used in the diets of many because, when cooked, they can offer a great ingredient for many baked goods! Sometimes used in cookies, or consumed when roasted, or even used as flour – a White Oak Tree’s acorns are used in both the human and wildlife diet.

An acorn itself is considered a superfood, especially for our wildlife. An acorn produces carbohydrates, fats, and proteins – all of which can provide nutrients to our wildlife.

It is said that in ancient times, acorns were used by our indigenous ancestors as a necessary part of their diet.

8. A White Oak Tree Provides Hardwood

A White Oak Tree provides deciduous hardwood. The best hardwood comes from the tallest White Oak Trees, whose trunks grow tall and straight.

The hardwood produced from the White Oak Tree has even straight grains and wood that is extremely hard, durable, heavy, and strong.

9. A White Oak Tree’s Wood is Light Beige/White in Color

Part of the reason why a White Oak Tree got its name is because of the color of hardwood it produces.

When the bark is peeled away or the tree is chopped down for wood, the color of the inside of the bark is a very light beige color. That color is one reason why they call it a White Oak Tree.

The lighter-color wood that is produced from a White Oak Tree is used for the high-end light, hardwood floors. The color itself is enough to wow you, but it is often stained with darker colors.

10. Whiskey Barrels Are Made From White Oak Trees

A White Oak Tree’s wood is used for so many things – including whiskey barrels! Because of its non-porous qualities and its ability to produce an amazing oaky flavor, whiskey and wine are aged in White Oak barrels.

There is a plastic-like substance called tyloses that helps make a White Oak Tree’s wood waterproof! Because of this waterproof quality – white oak is used in barrels, ships, and buckets!

11. A White Oak Tree is Harder Than a Red Oak Tree

According to the Janka hardness test, a White Oak Tree’s wood is slightly harder than a Red Oak Tree’s wood.

The Janka hardness test that is used determines how hard a piece of wood is by swinging an 11.28-millimeter steel ball halfway into a piece of wood and then measuring its force.

A Red Oak Trees wood’s Janka rating is 1290, where a White Oak Tree’s wood has a rating of 1360.

You can read more about the difference between White Oak Trees and Red Oak Trees here.

12. Drumsticks Are Made From White Oak Trees 

Because of the hardness level of a White Oak Tree’s wood, the hardwood is perfect for drumsticks!

White Oak Tree wood is perfect for drumsticks because they are durable, are non-porous, helps with the sound, and last longer than other wooden drumsticks.

13. The Symbol of 80 Years of Marriage is Oak Tree 

It’s fitting that the Oak tree is the symbol for 80 years of marriage.

We know that White Oak Trees are symbolic in many ways, and specifically, White Oak Trees represent strength, resilience, longevity, permanence, and stability. 

You can say that 80 years of marriage definitely shares those attributes as well! 

14. An Oak Tree is Used As a Symbol in the Army Ranks

A gold and silver-white oak tree leaf is the symbol given to differentiate the army ranks of the Lieutenant Commanders, Majors, O-4 and Commanders, Lieutenant Colonels, O-5. 

The oak tree is also used on the Medal of Honor as a design in the military. Today, those in the military who receive awards may also receive a silver encrusted cluster of oak leaves and acorns as a token along with their metal.

Since the oak tree has so many respected qualities, it is no wonder our heroes receive awards that include the oak tree design.

15. A White Oak Tree is The State Tree for 3 States

The White Oak Tree is the state tree for 3 states – Connecticut, Maryland, and Illinois.

In Connecticut, the Charter Oak, a White Oak Tree, was deemed the state tree in 1947. Living for over 200 years, the Charter Oak fell during a difficult storm in the 1800s. It is also said that King Charles II hid the charter in the state in a White Oak Tree.

In Maryland, the Wye Oak was a tree that was considered to be “the finest white oak specimen in the country,” and because of this, they decided to make this their state tree in 1941.

In 1908, Illinois started the process of choosing a state tree. Illinois gave the students in their schools a poll of what they think the state tree should be. On the poll, there were three trees: the native oak tree, the elm tree, and the ash tree. Students chose the native oak tree.

In 1973, the plot thickens, and those of Illinois gave their students a vote again to choose the type of oak for the state tree, and they chose the White Oak Tree.

16. White Oak Trees Get Their Name Because of the Color of The Back of Their Leaves

In addition to the color of the hardwood, White Oak Trees get their name because of the color of the back of their leaves!

The back of a White Oak Trees leaves is a whitish color or considered to be a paler green.

Although the color changes in the fall to red or brown, the back of the White Oak Tree leave is a key way to identify which type of oak tree it is.

17. White Oak Trees Are Found on The East Coast of The USA And as Far West as Minnesota

White Oak Trees are found all over the East Coast to the beginning of Florida, then expand to the eastern part of Texas and west to Minnesota.

The span of the White Oak Trees is predominantly in the Eastern part of the United States and originated on the East Coast. White Oak Trees are very rarely seen in coastal areas and in higher altitude locations.

18. Turkeys Love White Oak Tree Acorns

It’s the truth! Turkeys actually love White Oak Trees. White Oak Trees provide shelter, food, and a ton of nesting spaces, which makes them perfect for turkeys and a large variety of other animals.

If you are in an area where they’re a lot of wild turkeys, you have to look up into the trees at night, because we promise you – you will see turkeys just sitting on the branches and looking down! It’s truly a sight to see, but it makes a ton of sense! 

Turkeys love White Oak Trees because they provide them with an ample amount of food – 70% of a wild turkey’s diet consists of acorns!

In addition to that, the White Oak Trees provide sturdy and stable branches for turkeys to create their shelter, and because White Oak Trees are super tall, the turkeys can be safe from any turkey predators.

19. White Oak Trees Grow From 1-2 Feet a Year

The growth rate of a White Oak tree is considered to be slow. Growing from one to two feet a year, a White Oak Tree, on average, takes 30 years to grow fully!

Starting from a tiny acorn or sapling, a White Oak Tree, and with relatively forgiving conditions, will become larger than life – but it will take some time.

Here’s a full timeline on how long it takes to grow an oak tree.

20. White Oak Trees Need 4 Hours of Direct Sun a Day

In order for White Oak Trees to grow to their highest potentials, White Oak Trees need direct sun for 4 hours throughout the day!

The truth of the matter is, a White Oak Tree is a shade tree that provides so much shade to our outdoor spaces, for our wildlife, and for us, but in order to give us all that shade, it needs a ton of sun to grow.

21. White Oak Tree Bark is Used in Medicine

White Oak Trees, to this day, are used in a variety of ways, including medicine.

Because a White Oak Tree has so many astringent properties, it is used today as a tea to treat arthritis, diarrhea, colds, fever, cough, and bronchitis, for helping stimulate an appetite, and can even improve digestion!

However, never use the bark of a White Oak Tree for medicinal purposes on your own. Always consult a doctor or professional and let them direct you.

22. A White Oak Tree Can Live For 6 Centuries

White Oak Trees live an extremely long time! The oldest living one is said to be 582! 

Although White Oak Trees reach maturity at 75-100 years old – Oak Trees then get to live in retirement, as their acorn production decreases. However, White Oak Trees will provide shade and shelter, and their barks will still be useful for hundreds of years to come.

If you’re planning on planting an oak tree, keep their lifespan in mind when you plant an oak tree in your backyard.

23. A White Oak Tree’s Roots Can Grow 7x The Size of The Canopy

Yes, it’s true; those big canopies aren’t the biggest part of a White Oak Tree!

With canopies ranging from 60-70 feet when fully grown, the roots of a White Oak Tree grow 7x that – they can be up to almost 500 feet!

The Roots of the White Oak Tree grow way faster than any part of the tree, and a White Oak Tree is so so stable and so strong, due in part to the roots!

24. Black Bears Love White Oak Trees

Black bears cannot get enough of White Oak Trees!

Why do Black Bears Love White Oak Trees? Well, it’s because of the acorns! They actually prefer White Oak Tree acorns over Red Oak Tree acorns due to their sweetness and will eat acorns completely whole – shell and all!

Of course, depending on where you live, you may not have black bears just hanging out in your nearby White Oak Trees – but if you live in a highly-populated Black Bear area like Pennsylvania, Minnesota, or Oregon – you are going to see them.

25. The Oak Tree is the National Tree of 17 Countries

There are 17 countries around the world that have a type of oak tree as their national tree – including the USA! 

Belarus, Cyprus, Denmark, England, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, United Kingdom, United States of America and Wales, all have an oak tree as their national tree. 

26. White Oak Burns Longer as Firewood Than Red Oak

Since the White Oak Tree is much slower growth of a tree than the Red Oak Tree – a White Oak Tree’s wood is way denser. Since the wood is denser, it takes a lot longer to burn through it – making the White Oak Tree a great choice for firewood!

White Oak Tree wood is also non-porous, which will help the smoking capabilities of the log itself.

27. White Oak Trees Are 20ft Tall at 10 Years Old

Since we now know that White Oak Trees grow relatively slow, you may be surprised that it’s already 10 years old when it’s only 20 feet!

You can actually buy 20-foot White Oak Trees in garden centers at that height right now. So just think, that garden center has been growing that tree for at least 10 years before you purchased it.

If you’re interested more about oak tree growth, check out our guide on the fastest growing oak trees here.

28. A White Oak Tree Can Grow from a Single Acorn

A White Oak Tree can actually grow from one single acorn. But don’t let that scare you if you have a White Oak Tree – because it is said that every 4-10 years, an Oak Tree will produce an acorn that’s perfect for growing – so you’re not going to have 1000 oak trees growing every month! 

That being said, an acorn can eventually be buried in the ground from weather and the sorts – but sometimes, our best White Oak Tree planters are squirrels!

Squirrels bury their nuts and acorns, and honestly, they sometimes forget where they are – especially if they migrated in the time being! Those buried nuts – can then become full-growing White Oak Trees!

29. Ink From an Oak Tree Was Used to Write Newton’s Theories

Can you believe this? Oak Trees have an insect that absolutely loves them – the Oak Gall Wasps, and when those wasps lay eggs – they lay hard shells, like an acorn, but they are round, hard, and black. To make the ink, they use the shells and smash them up to make an ink-like substance called Gall Ink.

Gall Ink was used to make many manuscripts and documents, and it was also used to write Newton’s Theories!

30. White Oak Trees Were Used to Build Homes For Our Earliest Ancestors 

White Oak Trees have been around for millions of years. There are fossils dating back to times when the White Oak Trees came to be, and throughout these millions of years – our earliest ancestors would use the White Oak Trees’ wood to create huts and shelters for them and their people.

The Native Americans also used the White Oak Tree for tool handles, corn pounding mortars, gathering baskets and barrels.

31. White Oak Trees Are Homes For Animals

The best fact of all – White Oak Trees are truly magical trees. One tree alone can provide abundance for people and animals alike, and they play such an instrumental part in our world, in the past, today, and even in our futures!

32. The Male Flowers of a White Oak Tree Are Called Catkins

Why Catkins? Well, the name Catkins comes from a Dutch word, katteken, which means kitten!

The male flower’s texture not only resembles the fur of a kitten, but it looks like a kitten’s tail! A catkin hangs, drooping, like a tail, with pollen attached to it. In little clusters – they truly resemble cattails!

References:

Abrams, M. D. (2003). Where has all the white oak gone?. BioScience, 53(10), 927-939.

“llinois State Symbols.” State of Illinois Main Site, https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/education/Pages/ILStateSymbols.aspx#:~:text=Illinois%20State%20Tree%20%2D%20White%20Oak,chosen%20as%20the%20State%20Tree.

Pilcher, J. R., & Gray, B. (1982). The relationships between oak tree growth and climate in Britain. The journal of ecology, 297-304.

Peter, D., & Harrington, C. (2002). Site and Tree Factors in Orego regon White Oak Acorn Production in Western Wash. Northwest Science, 76(3), 189.

Sharp, W. M., & Sprague, V. G. (1967). Flowering and fruiting in the white oaks. Pistillate flowering, acorn development, weather, and yields. Ecology, 48(2), 243-251.

“The Charter Oak.” Our Libraries – CT Judicial Branch Law Library Services, https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/history/charteroak.htm. 

“White Oak Quercas Alba.” Medicinal Plants-White Oak, www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/medicinal_plants/pages/White_Oak.html.

Quercus Alba L, https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_2/quercus/alba.htm. 

Oak trees are truly breathtaking, with their wide-open canopies that spread across a landscape and with building-sized heights that tower over you; oak trees are just simply full of life. However, for them to be full of life and grow successfully, it’s important to know that oak trees sometimes need to be fertilized!

In order for oak trees to grow successfully, they need to be fertilized. The ratio, 12-4-8 – 12% Nitrogen, 4% Phosphorus, and 8% Potassium, is considered an ideal mix when choosing a fertilizer for an oak tree. Fertilizer helps the oak tree grow and produce acorns. 

You may have heard that oak trees are easy to take care of and may not need a lot of maintenance to grow, and that’s usually true – however; young oak trees, transported oak trees, and even in some instances, mature oak trees, all will benefit from fertilizer. 

What is Fertilizer for Oak Trees?

Think of fertilizer to plants as vitamins are to people. Sometimes plants and oak trees need a little bit of extra help to get them to where they need to be, and this is where fertilizer comes into play. 

Fertilizer is any material that is used to give a plant and oak tree nutrients. Fertilizer can be inorganic, organic, natural, or synthetic and usually contains three key ingredients – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium when used in agriculture. 

Fertilizer can help plants and crops grow bigger, faster and can actually make a plant produce more food than it would without fertilizer. In an oak tree’s case, fertilizer will help it produce more acorns. 

However, not all fertilizer is the same – and there are some fertilizers that are better for certain plants than others. 

Different Types of Possible Oak Tree Fertilizer

There are many different types of fertilizers – all of which do different things. Depending on which type of plant you are looking for or the problem you are trying to solve, there is a fertilizer that will help with your oak trees issue. 

Mineral Fertilizers 

Mineral fertilizers are key to giving the soil and plants the nutrients they need to help them grow as healthy as possible. Mineral fertilizers take naturally occurring minerals and transform them for use as fertilizer. 

There are nitrogen fertilizers, phosphorus fertilizers, potassium fertilizers, calcium fertilizer, magnesium fertilizers, and even a combination of nutrient fertilizers – all of which are considered mineral-based. 

Organic Fertilizers 

Organic fertilizers are another type of fertilizer that is made from organic matter. It is used to enhance the growth of crops and can actually help in deterring pests and disease from the soil.  

It is said that using an organic fertilizer can create higher seedling biomass and can significantly improve the soil fungal to bacterial ratio as well as soil enzyme activity in your soil. 

Inorganic or Synthetic Fertilizer 

Inorganic or synthetic fertilizer is exactly what it seems like – it’s synthetic minerals and chemically based fertilizer. Whatever your plant specifically needs – there is an inorganic formula for it! 

However, when using any of these fertilizers, it’s important to always make sure you are using the correct dose because too much can cause harm to your plant or oak tree. 

How Does Fertilizer Work?

No matter the type of fertilizer that your plant needs, all fertilizers typically work the same.

Whether sprayed directly onto leaves or applied to the soil – the plant will go through a metabolic process while taking in the nutrients that the fertilizer provides. Think of the plant absorbing the fertilizer and getting the nutrients it needs!

When we talk about fertilizing plants, there are many options out there for many different needs and to solve many different problems – however, today, we’re going to focus on oak trees and the best fertilizer for them!

Should I Fertilize My Oak Trees?

The answer to whether or not you have to fertilize your oak trees or not is – yes, and no! I know it’s confusing – but we will break it down for you. Oak trees benefit from fertilizer, and depending on the stage of life that it is in, fertilizer may be a necessity.

Mature Oak Trees Don’t Always Need Fertilizer

Mature oak trees do not always need fertilizer, and if added unnecessarily, they can actually cause the tree more harm than good. 

When oak trees are mature, they typically already have a good system going. The leaves that fall from the oak are actually the exact organic material that oaks need!

If you let the leaves stay by the tree, rather than rake them up, the leaves will eventually decompose into the soil, and the oak tree will eat them right up – giving the tree all viable nutrients!

However, on the contrary – if your oaks leaves are yellow or brown, blistered, have a different color around the perimeter, or has a lot of holes in them – your oak tree may have a disease, and therefore, if your oak absorbs those fallen leaves, your oak tree will become unhealthy. 

Adding fertilizer to a mature tree may actually be too much for the tree to handle. The oak tree is already getting plenty of nutrients the way it has been for many years. It is so used to doing its own thing to survive that adding any extra nutrients may throw off its balance and harm it!

The difference between a mature oak and a young oak is that when a young tree is growing, it doesn’t hasn’t built its roots. Physically, the tree has roots – but the roots are not grown deep enough to maintain stability. And because of that, the oak tree doesn’t have a consistent, stable routine to help keep its health.

 A young oak tree is still growing and needs assistance along the way. 

It’s Important to Fertilize Young Oak Trees 

The most important time to fertilize an oak tree is when it is young! An oak tree that was just planted would benefit greatly from fertilizer. The thing to understand about fertilizer is that it’s important to add when the tree is actually growing – this also counts for the time of year you fertilize, but we will get to that in a bit!

Newly planted oak trees require love and care, and nutrients! Adding fertilizer into the soil will be absorbed by the tree and its roots to help it grow to its highest potentials. 

Because young oak trees are so new to the world, it’s important to assist them in establishing a proper foundation, and because it takes some time to grow deep, sturdy roots, adding fertilizer can help speed up the process while helping it gain strength. 

Add Fertilizer to Transported Oak Trees After Roots Establish 

Now you may think – since the roots aren’t established, shouldn’t I be fertilizing the tree right away? The truth is – not really. There is a good chance that a transported oak tree already established a good routine somewhere else, and therefore shocking it with fertilizer can actually do harm. 

Taking a tree that has already established roots and planting it somewhere else is definitely a big change for the tree. The tree is definitely going to be in a shock-like state, and until it settles into its new environment – it should be left alone in terms of fertilizing. 

A good way to understand this is – imagine being nervous and being told to react calmly – it’s just not going to happen! When your tree is in this new heightened state, the best thing to do is to leave it alone – until it has some time to adjust. 

However, if you know that your oak tree is being transported, much like a new oak tree in a nursery, it may be good to start feeding it with fertilizer so that it gains the energy and strength needed to survive the transport!

Fertilizer Helps Oak Trees in a Nursery Grow

Think of a newborn baby. They have no idea what they’re doing, and they need your assistance – it’s the same with an oak tree in a nursery. 

Not only are oak trees in a nursery young, but they are being prepared for transport – so it’s important to give them the necessary nutrients so that they can be successful in their new environments. 

Giving your oak trees fertilizer truly depends on the stage of life they are in, but for mature oaks – it also depends on the state of health that they are in. 

How to Tell If My Mature Oak Tree Needs Fertilizer?

The thing about oak trees that makes them such a common tree is that they are strong, stable, and really predictable.

Oak trees are not susceptible to many diseases, although they do come up from time to time, and once matured – oak trees are easy to grow and require little to no maintenance. 

However, sometimes oak trees get unhealthy, and there are signs that you can look out for to see if your oak is healthy. If your oak tree isn’t healthy, you may need to add some fertilizer into the mix. 

What Does a Healthy Oak Tree Look Like? 

It sounds redundant – but it’s the truth. A healthy tree will have a full canopy of leaves, green foliage all year except in the fall, bark that looks together and has a strong, stable appearance, and branches that produce leaves and are flexible to the touch. 

A quick way to check to see if your oak tree is healthy is by taking a branch and bending it! A healthy, live tree will bend and feel flexible, while an unhealthy tree’s branch will break when bent!

Although, there are also some easy ways that can help you determine if your tree is unhealthy.

You can read the full symptoms of a dying oak tree here.

What Does an Unhealthy Oak Tree Look Like?

There are five signs to look out for that can easily help you determine if your oak tree is unhealthy. 

1. Yellow or Brown Leaves
2. Thinning Canopy 
3. Peeling Bark
4. Brittle Branches
5. Rotted Roots

If you notice any of these signs, you may want to call a professional or do some research to see what the underlying issue for the decline in health may be.

Additionally, you can read our full guide on what may be wrong with your oak tree here.

Oak trees are resilient, but sometimes, they do need some extra care, and if your oak is experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be calling for some help! This is when fertilizer may be just the answer. 

3 Best Fertilizers for Oak Trees 

Whether you have a new tree, a transported tree, or a mature oak tree that needs some extra care – there is a fertilizer for you! However, oak-specific fertilizers typically follow the N-P-K ratio and contain three mineral ingredients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – all of which are great for your oak! 

The N-P-K ratio is the number you see on a fertilizer bag and refers to the following three ingredients.

Nitrogen Is the Most Important Nutrient for Oak Trees

Nitrogen is arguably the most important nutrient for oak trees. It is necessary for plant growth and helps regulate any vegetative growth. Nitrogen is a part of amino acids and chlorophyll, and because of this, it is part of the process of enzymatic reactions that take place in the tree. 

If you are looking to fertilizer an oak, it is essential to find something with a higher percentage of nitrogen – try out HastaGro 12-4-8 Liquid Lawn Food Plus.

Phosphorus is A Key Nutrient for Oak Growth 

Phosphorus is the second key nutrient that helps our oak trees grow. Contained in many fertilizers – phosphorus is added because it helps plants grow bigger, stronger, and fuller by strengthening their root systems and promoting flowering. 

Being a structural component of both DNA and RNA, phosphorus carries important information on a molecular level that helps oak trees thrive. 

If you are in need of phosphorus-rich fertilizer, you may want to check out Burpee Organic Bone Meal Fertilizer.

Potassium Helps Oak Tree Growth Growth

Ah yes, potassium for your oak tree.

Potassium is also another beneficial key mineral in fertilizers, especially for oaks. Although potassium doesn’t impact the plant directly – it indirectly functions as a component that activates an enzymatic reaction – thus, that reaction becomes an essential part of the plant growth. 

Another great option for an oak fertilizer is Miracle-Gro Liquid All Purpose Plant Food Concentrate.

How to Fertilize an Oak Tree

Now that we know some of the best ingredients for your fertilizers, it’s time to learn how to actually fertilize your oak tree – and the best time to start is right before it rains or before you are watering! 

Before adding the fertilizer, make sure that you are not adding the mix within a foot of the tree’s trunk. Staying a healthy distance of about a foot away will help the tree absorb the fertilizer better. 

There are a few methods you can use to fertilize your oak tree: you can spread the fertilizer to cover two-thirds of the root zone, or you can create holes into the ground surrounding the tree’s drip line, about a foot and a half apart, and place the fertilizer into the holes! 

After you add the fertilizer, it is always best to water the area. Adding water will help the fertilizer move within the soil and be absorbed by the roots. 

When adding fertilizer, it is always best to read the directions on the product to see the dosing. Dosing varies and depends on the ingredients and the percentages of those ingredients. If you are unsure of what to do – it is always best to check in with a professional to ensure your tree’s health. 

When is the Best Time of Year to Fertilize an Oak Tree?

The best time of year to fertilize is in the mid-spring – and this is actually a general rule of thumb for any type of plant and oak tree. The reason why spring is the best time to fertilize is because the soil is typically warm and dry, and warm and dry are ideal conditions for fertilizer to be effective. 

The nitrogen specifically in fertilizer does the best in warm and dry soil, and being the key ingredient for the plant’s health, it is important to add it during this time to prevent any nitrogen loss. 

The reason spring is also the best time is that it is when our trees come out of the dormant season and start to grow. With mild temperatures and not too many extreme weather conditions, an oak tree can start to truly flourish – as we said earlier, while a tree is actually growing – it’s the best time to add fertilizer. 

It is not recommended to add fertilizer in the summer because of its extremely hot temperatures. Trees actually don’t grow that much in the summer, and because of that, adding fertilizers will actually do more harm than good, as the plant doesn’t need all those extra nutrients during this time.

The fall also isn’t recommended, as this is when our trees and plants are starting to settle down for the winter. In the fall, the lawns and plants start to become dormant, and they will not absorb any fertilizer that lays in the soil – this can actually lead to a high risk of nitrate leaching.

If you’re looking to plant, you can read our guide on the best time to plant an oak tree here.

Wrapping it Up 

All in all, your oak trees may need fertilizer from time to time. It’s always great to check with a professional if your mature oaks are not flourishing, and it’s always best to add fertilizer to young and growing oaks.

References

“The Effects of Chemical and Organic Fertilizer Usage on Rhizosphere Soil in Tea Lin, W., Lin, M., Zhou, H., Wu, H., Li, Z., & Lin, W. (2019). The effects of chemical and organic fertilizer usage on rhizosphere soil in tea orchards. PloS one, 14(5), e0217018.

Timing Fertilizer Application on Long Island. www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/ffstiming.pdf. 

Florida, the sunshine state and most southeastern state in the United States of America, has one of the most beautifully diverse plant lives. From flowers to shrubs to trees and all the in-betweens, Florida’s sunshine-rich climate has the perfect conditions for plants to thrive. Moreover, there is one common plant that occasionally takes over Florida trees; it’s called moss. 

Moss is a non-vascular flowering plant, an epiphyte that grows on Florida trees. Most commonly, you’ll find Spanish moss, ball moss, and lichens on your Florida trees. If you see moss on your tree, you don’t need to remove it unless the weight of the moss is putting pressure on the tree branch.

Moss is commonly seen in Florida climates because it provides the perfect climatic conditions for it to flourish, and today, we’re going to talk about why it happens, what you can do – but first, let’s talk basics. 

What is Tree Moss?

Moss is a green patchy and spongey growth that you sometimes see on plants, and it can even grow on pavements. Moss is part of the Bromeliad family of plants and is a non-vascular, growing from spores and growing when climate conditions are just right.

The Bromeliad family of plants consists of moss, pineapples, and succulents! I know. 

On plants, moss will grow on its own in a moist and shady area. Moss grows rapidly whether it’s on a hard surface like bark, or pavement, or on a plant. Moss can grow in large amounts and can prosper in a 6-week period. 

Moss will also grow well in acidic, shady soil coverage and can cover entire landscaping and gardens. Although moss may seem like a problem, in more cases than not, moss does not provide any harm to trees and plants directly. However, it can indirectly cause breakage or weakness in the trees.

Moss Grows on Most Trees 

Believe it or not, moss grows on trees specifically because the environment allows it. Moss loves a shady and moist area and a bark of a tree – well, that’s environmentally perfect. 

Moss needs a surface to grow on, and the bark of a tree provides not only a shady spot because of the tree’s canopy but also provides a damp, dark area. 

On trees like White Oaks that have deeper fissures in their barks, you will see moss – as the fissures become an excellent growing spot, with its dark, moist grooves. 

However, contrary to popular belief, moss does not anchor itself to a tree, nor is it stuck to a tree – Spanish moss, for instance, actually grows in a draping way so that it attaches and hooks on to the branches and limbs of trees. Without its draping nature, moss will frankly – just fall off. 

When dealing with moss – the climate is the most important factor, and that’s why you often see it on Florida trees.

Why Does Tree Moss Grow in Florida?

Florida is humid – I know, shocking, right? There is nothing like the Florida sun and nothing like the Florida heat, and its famous city – Miami – is considered to be one of the hottest cities in the United States! I guess the truth of the matter is – Florida is just that much closer to the equator, and this is one of the contributing factors to its climate.

The Floridian climate is considered mostly subtropical; however, the southern tip is considered tropical. Florida has relatively mild winters and hot-hot summers, perfect for moss growth. 

Believe it or not, in northern parts of Florida, people can actually see snow from time to time. Florida also experiences a ton of rain, and weather snow or rain or just hot and humid days, Florida’s weather patterns all have one thing in common – a lot of moisture. 

The reason why Florida becomes such an amazing breeding ground for moss is that it’s mostly surrounded by water, which creates all-year moisture in the air, even if the temperatures are somewhat mild! With all that moisture in the air, you can say that moss has an endless supply of water available. 

Since Florida is surrounded by water, that is also why it has extreme weather conditions like hurricanes and tropical storms. Being close to the equator, being surrounded by water, and being a generally humid state because of its high temperatures – Florida is like paradise for moss. 

Moss Loves Florida Trees 

Moss not only loves humidity, but moss needs humidity to survive. And there isn’t a more humid state than Florida, well, at least on the East Coast. Moss grows specifically from the water that’s in the air and needs a continuous supply of water to reproduce. 

Moss is commonly seen on Florida trees because of Florida’s humid climate conditions. 

Moss is non-vascular; it does not have any veins or roots to obtain the water. Because of this, when water passes over the moss in the air, the moss drinks up the water from the permeable scales that are on its foliage. The water helps moss grow and spread, and Florida’s humidity is perfect for moss to form. 

Moss also needs nutrients, and with a combination of dust particles in the air and debris that collects on plants – it’s able to obtain its nutrients to survive. 

Florida has a diverse tree population, many of which are perfect for moss to lay its hands on. 

Trees That Grow in Florida (& That Have Moss) 

Florida is home to many native trees – actually, Florida has more native trees than any other state in the United States of America! Right? I know, we were shocked too. When you think of Florida, your brain instantly goes to Palm trees – and yes, there are so many palm trees, but that’s just one out of hundreds of tree variations that live there.

Florida’s tree population is made up of hickory, elm, ash, maple, magnolia, basswood, locust, pine, gum, and oak trees. They also have tropical trees like Palm trees and White Bird of Paradise seen throughout the state. 

Although the tree population is diverse, moss doesn’t have a favorite tree – you can find moss growing wherever the climate allows it. 

Now, I know what you may be thinking – does moss actually grow on Palm trees? And the answer is – well, keep on reading to find out. 

Can Moss Grow on Palm Trees?

Fun fact – Moss can grow on Palm trees; well actually, moss does grow on Palm trees. Moss grows on Palm trees so frequently that it actually has its own species of moss apart from the Bromeliad family – Hypnodendron Comosum. 

Hypnodendron Comosum is a ground moss that grows specifically on Palm trees. It is divided into two varieties, Hypnodenron Comosum Var and Hypnodenron Comosum Sieberi – both of which are similar in nature except the var, is smaller and more compact. 

Now we know the type of moss that grows on palms – what other types of moss are there?

What Kind of Moss Grows on Florida Trees?

There are about 350 different species of moss and around 60 species of moss alone in Florida. However, there are two main types of moss that you can find on Florida trees.  

Spanish Moss

Spanish moss is the most popular moss in the southern states of the USA and is easily recognizable because of its pendant strands. Think of a chandelier or a light fixture to get a good visual – it often hangs from a tree’s branches and limbs. 

Spanish moss is native to Mexico – and it can grow in any tropical environment like in the Caribbean, Florida, and in South America. It is also seen in the West Indies and in Arkansas, Texas, and Virginia. 

Spanish moss is an epiphyte, which means it does not need another plant for nourishment – it just grows on top of other plants. 

Like all moss, Spanish moss loves moist environments. However, its ability to trap water can help it survive during dryer seasons. 

Fun fact – Spanish moss actually used to be used for stuffing automobile seats, furniture, and installation in homes! Today, it is widely used for mulch. 

Animals love Spanish moss, and birds especially will make their nest within it! Because of its clumping nature, Spanish moss is the perfect hideaway for bats, reptiles, and amphibians. 

And truth be told – Spanish moss does not harm your tree at all! Spanish moss has nothing to directly do with the tree’s health, and if your tree seems to be declining – there may be an underlying condition that needs to be looked into. 

The only thing Spanish moss can indirectly do to your tree is create extra weight on its branches, and in time, the weight may get be too heavy for the branch to hold. 

Ball Moss 

Ball moss is another variation of moss that grows on top of plants. However, Ball moss is a much smaller type of moss. Ball moss grows in small clumps from 6-10 inches, and you can find it not only on plants and branches but on telephone wires too! 

Ball moss is created from tiny seeds that fly in the air and land on nearby trees and structures. Once the seeds stick, the moss is formed, and they develop pseudo-roots which keeps them attached to the surface it’s on. 

If you don’t want the Ball moss sticking around, you can easily remove it by pruning and picking – but it is never actually imperative to remove – unless you don’t like the look of it! 

Much like Spanish moss, Ball moss does not cause harm to your tree – in fact, when Ball moss dies and falls to the ground, it actually provides your tree with nutrients and becomes a natural, organic fertilizer!

Lichens 

Not directly a moss; however, Lichens are another type of epiphyte that grows on Florida trees. The only similarity Lichens has to moss is that it does not take nutrients from its host. Lichens are a fungus and algae mix that is commonly seen on Florida trees. 

Lichens grow a crusty, white, leaf-like growth on tree trunks, barks, and branches. Much like moss, it is not bad for your tree – however, it can be unpleasing to see. 

Should You Remove Moss from Your Tree?

The answer is – it depends on what you like! If you like the look of moss – keep it there – it does not cause any harm to your trees! If you don’t like the look, well, that’s a whole other story – get ahead of the moss and remove it before it grows out of control! 

The thing is that moss will not hurt your tree directly. The problem that occurs is if the moss gets too heavy and puts weight on the branches. 

Specifically, with larger moss variations like Spanish moss, because of its hanging nature, the more it hangs, the more weight is being applied to the branch or tree, which can then potentially pull down on the tree. If the moss is growing high up within the tree, it can possibly intertwine with branches and leaves and cause limbs to break off.  

If you are having any of these problems, there are some things you can do to remove moss successfully. 

How to Get Rid of Moss on Trees 

There are many different ways to get rid of moss, and some are pretty easy and quickly effective! 

When moss is green, that means it is alive and flourishing. However, it seems to be gray or white, which means it is dead – it can be more easily removed. 

Use a Soft Brush or Broom to Remove Moss 

Preferably when the tree is dormant, moss can be removed with a scrub brush or broom. Gently scrubbing the moss on the branches or trunks with the brush or broom and adding some pressure where needed can be just the thing.

If the moss isn’t budging, you may need to add a spray remover as well.

Use a Spray Moss Removal 

 Moss can be a pain sometimes, so if it’s not budging by just brushing it, you, unfortunately, may need to kill off the moss and add some spray removal into the mix. 

A great spray to try out is BioAdvanced Moss and Algae Killer, as it won’t damage any surrounding trees, grass, or shrubs in the area! It’s gentle enough to be used with other plants around but tough enough on moss! 

Using the spray, try to coat as much of the moss as possible, and then let it sit for a few hours for lighter moss, or if it’s on the heavier side and really grown – you may have to wait a few days for it to start working. 

Once the spray works, you will notice the moss starting to change into that gray, ashy color, and from there – it’s time to grab the brush and try to scrub it away!

Pressure Wash the Tree to Remove Moss

The thing about moss is that the larger it gets, and the more widespread it grows – the more out of hand it is! So, if your moss has reached those out-of-hand levels, and you just can’t stand the sight of it anymore – it’s time to regain control! 

Using a pressure washer can be a fast, simplistic, and organic way to remove pesky moss – especially in those hard-to-reach places. 

Apply the pressurized water with a long hose to the biggest spots of moss first. Loosen them up and keep applying the water until it starts to fall off the tree, or if you see it wash away from the bark. Move on to the smaller clumps and keep spraying until you get your desired result. 

However, never use a pressure washer on a young tree – as the pressure may be too much for it to withstand. Also, be careful not to peel barks or damaged branches when using the pressure washer. 

If you’re in need of a pressure washer – check out  Sun Joe High-Pressure Washer! It’s electric and provides a great amount of pressure that will help you get into all those nooks and crannies. 

Wrapping it Up!

Moss can be one of the most beautiful features of a tree and can truly give character and a sense of regality to the tree. But the truth of the matter is – moss is a personal preference and very rarely causes direct harm to any living host that it is on.

Moss comes in all shapes and all sizes and doesn’t discriminate when it comes to picking a tree for its home!

References

“ENH1224/EP485: Spanish Moss, Ball Moss, and Lichens – Harmless Epiphytes.” AskIFAS Powered by EDIS, edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ep485. 

“Illinois Bryophytes .” Illinois.Gov , www2.illinois.gov/dnr/publications/Documents/00000676.pdf. 

Although oak trees are steadfast, well-known, adaptable, and a great addition to any yard, they also serve a higher purpose. Oak trees help the environment on a daily, no- constant basis!

In general, oak trees help the environment by providing habitats and nourishment to wildlife and help maintain a good quality of air by soaking up air pollutants. Oak tree canopies even prevent soil erosion by slowing rainfall and provide nutrients to the surrounding soil.

Read on to learn more about these ways in which oak trees benefit the environment and its inhabitants. You’ll be surprised to learn just how beneficial oak trees can be in both daily lives and across generations!

Why Are Oak Trees So Important?

Let’s get into it with the first question you may be asking- why exactly are oaks so important?

While this article is going to give you lots of insight into that, we want to give you a sneak peek here.

Oak trees and humans have a long, interdependent relationship. This basically means that, while oaks sometimes need our support to thrive, we also heavily rely on them for more than we realize.

Oak trees can be credited for helping cleanse the air we breathe, keeping our communities safe from fires, erosion, which plays a part in climate change, and keeping woodland creatures in the woods and out of our neighborhoods.

Now, these are just a small few benefits that oak trees have, and those mostly relate to us as humans.

The fact is that oak trees support us, they support animals, and they work to protect the environment at their own expense.

Seem dramatic to you? Keep reading on to see just how true that statement is.

1. Oak Trees Help Animals

First and foremost, oak trees provide so much for the critters that make their homes outdoors.

Oak trees can even help sustain a good balance between humans and animals by providing enough that these potential pests do not have to seek out food or shelter that may interfere with people’s daily lives.

When the wildlife on our planet is sustained healthy and can contribute to local ecosystems, that is how you know that the plant life is doing its part.

2. Oak Tree Acorns Provide An Alternative Food Source

Animals like deer, pigs, mice, squirrels, and more all prefer acorns over other foods like corn and beans. When these are available, without as much need for sustenance by humans, they can nourish wildlife and domestic animals alike.

This, of course, does not apply to every single animal as some can’t tolerate acorns (like cattle.)

So, while acorns may not be an advisable replacement for other feed types, some animals will seek them out naturally.

Oak trees produce about 140 pounds of acorns per tree at a time, according to research presented at the University of California’s Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. This number can shoot up to over 1000 pounds, however, in mature oaks of certain varieties.

Humans can also eat acorns, and they are truly a delight if prepared properly. They can be eaten whole, and roasted with salt, ground into flour or cornmeal, or even pressed for oil.

Just because this may not be the most traditional food to eat doesn’t mean that they aren’t a great savory snack. Compare them to any sort of salted nut, like walnuts, almonds, or peanuts.

If you’re interested, we go a bit more in-depth on which trees produce acorns here.

3. Oak Trees Provide Shelter

Oak trees provide shelter from everything, rain or shine.

On a stormy day, they keep the rainfall to an even, somewhat regulated pace that helps keep animals and soil sustained in a healthy way that is not overpowering.

They’ll protect people too, but we don’t exactly recommend standing under a large tree in a thunderstorm: one word- lightning. 

When the sun is shining, oaks provide a reprieve from the heat in the same way that they block the rain from coming down too quickly and heavily.

The leaves and branches of oak trees shade creatures big and small from getting a little too much sun. The same extends to the soil, keeping it from drying out as quickly as it would in an area that is uncovered and overexposed.

Another benefit of oak canopies providing shelter from the sun is felt by the soil itself. This shade acts as a mitigating factor in climate change because it helps to regulate the ground temperature of the soil even as the air temperature is increasingly rising.

This impact is not only felt in nature. Since oak trees are not only located in remote forests, their beneficial aspects are distributed across different areas. In urban locations, or really anywhere with people and buildings, the shade from these trees can help to reduce a need for extreme cooling measures.

All the more reason to plant one! If you’d like to, you can read more about if you should plant an oak tree in your backyard here.

A house or office shaded by an oak tree uses significantly less powerful air conditioning, which means less energy is being allocated to that area. Thus, a better environmental situation all around!

Oh, and these oak trees act like a home, or at least a resting spot, for many wild animals.

What Animals Live In An Oak Tree?

Smaller-sized mammals such as raccoons, squirrels, possums, and others can be found nesting in holes of older, more mature oak trees. A one-stop shop, these oak trees also provide the acorns that become a staple in the diet of these smaller mammals.

Not only tiny furry creatures can make use of oak trees, however. Larger mammals like foxes are known to make dens in the space of fallen, hollowed oak trunks.

Birds nest in the branches, seeing that no part of this oak tree’s real estate goes to waste, while insects and spiders nestle under the bark and in the soil near the base of the oak tree.

Reptiles, anything from frogs to snakes and salamanders, may make their home in the exposed roots of an oak tree, especially along a body of water.

4. Oak Trees Can Support Centuries Of Life

Some oak trees can live up to a millennium, or possibly more. This means that wildlife for generations, centuries of wild animals, can be sustained and sheltered by a single oak. That’s pretty special if you ask us.

This helps the environment, too, because of the fact that the more wildlife that flourishes, the more balanced an ecosystem that impacts so much of the natural world. 

Wildlife isn’t the only category that benefits in this way from oak trees. People for generations upon generations have looked to oak trees for medicinal purposes, food sources, and shelter.

Just because much of the developed world tend to overlook the myriad resources found right under our noses does not mean that those resources cease to exist.

If you’re interested in planting oak trees that last for centuries, you can check out our guide on the best oak trees to plant here.

5. Oak Trees Improve Air Quality

Air quality is one of the biggest considerations when talking about the environmentally-friendly merits of an area, and oak trees can play a large role in boosting this quality to a higher level.

As with other plants, photosynthesis is a huge factor in keeping our air clean and safe. This is why it’s said that the more trees, or plants in general, in an area, the better!

That’s all well and good, but how does photosynthesis clean the air? Let’s talk about it.

Leaves of oak trees store carbon dioxide up while allowing oxygen to be dispersed back into the atmosphere. This is the basic premise of photosynthesis. What’s more, however, is that airborne pollutants are also absorbed.

While this is objectively not good for the tree itself, these pollutants are not released back out in the same way that oxygen is, so the leaves are acting as a sort of vacuum for the ‘bad’ while helping to produce the ‘good’ in our air supply.

So, next time you breathe in a deep breath of fresh, clean air, thank a tree. More specifically, thank an oak tree! A single oak can absorb up to 10 pounds of air pollution per year, which adds up when you consider that the average oak tree lives hundreds of years.

With an (average) lifespan of about 400 years in their prime, oak trees are each responsible for helping to remove 2 tons, or 4,000 pounds, of air pollution in their lifetime.

Now, think about this on a scale of someone who has 3 oak trees planted in their yard. What about a small patch of property with 12 trees, or a forest with hundreds of these?

Oak trees are powerful environmentalists on their own, but, in a group, they are essentially a necessity to keeping our air clean, safe, and healthy to breathe in.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can read our piece on the lifespan of common oak trees here.

6. Oak Trees Improve Soil Quality

The roots of an oak tree help bind the soil together. This helps deter environmental concerns such as erosion, which may lead to more serious issues like drought and desertification.

On top of this, the canopy of trees helps to both capture and slow the rainfall, which, in turn, prevents an accelerated erosion due to rain.

Now, this might seem a little counterintuitive. How can water-based erosion cause the soil to end up in a drought?

Well, surface erosion of any kind can eventually impair waterways. We won’t get into all of the detail, but slower rainfall is actually a good thing! This doesn’t necessarily mean less rain, either.

How tree canopies work is that leaves and stem surfaces help to intercept the rainwater produced by storms, ensuring that the soil is watered adequately without being too forceful.

This idea even extends to the rest of the elements. The upper portions of an oak tree specifically help block wind from an area, as well as mitigating the spread of fires such as naturally-moving forest fires.

Along with protecting from air pollution, oaks also help to curb water pollution by soaking up toxins. Again, not a good thing for the tree as an individual but for our environment, it makes a great deal of difference.

Things like pesticides, trace contaminants, and even fertilizer nutrients are soaked up and allowed to break down slowly.

Eventually, these compounds are able to act as another form of a nutrient, which benefits all parties involved in this natural process.

These giants stand in the way of other, less forgiving, natural phenomena and help both plants and wildlife to live together more harmoniously and successfully.

Fertilizers play an important role in your oak tree and the surrounding soil. Oak trees benefit from specific fertilizers for maximum growth potential. Check out our recommendation of the best oak tree fertilizers here.

7. Decomposing Oak Trees Break Down Nutrients

Yes, that’s right! Decomposing oaks serve as a home for critters like salamanders, worms, termites, ants, and snails.

These tiny creatures play a big role in breaking down the tree to eventually turn back to the soil itself, providing nutrients for future generations of flora.

Not only do small creatures utilize decomposing oak trees, but the big ones benefit as well.

Here’s a test to see if you read the first part of this article. Remember that we mentioned foxes sometimes create their dens in these sorts of hollowed-out, fallen oak tree trunks? Great, you passed!

Jokes aside, so many creatures can benefit from oak trees. Both the oaks that are alive and thriving still and the ones that have fallen, been knocked down, or are beginning to decline.

That’s All We’ve Got!

Now you know- oak trees are amazing, sustainable plant life that can support humans, wildlife, soil, air, and entire environments around us.

If you ever find yourself questioning the worth of buying and planting a tree, remember these 6 ways that oak trees help the environment:

• Oak trees help animals
• Acorns provide a source of food
• Oak trees and canopies provide shelter
• Oak trees can support centuries of life
• Oak trees improve air quality
• Oak trees improve soil quality

Additionally, oak trees add a beautiful touch of scenery in areas that may otherwise appear dull or unattractive, bringing in some potential interest in the upkeep of a certain region or area.

If you’re looking for a statement tree in your yard, some sturdy new options to grow on a college campus (those campus squirrels have got to hang out somewhere- right?), or an environmentally beneficial option to plant on a larger chunk of land, oak trees are the one to beat!

Throw on some gardening gloves and relocate a sapling, or check out the 6 best places to plant an oak tree (and how to plant them.)

If you have been considering planting an oak from an acorn, relocating a sapling, or spending some time caring for oak trees in your area, we truly hope that this piece gave you the push that you need to do so.

If not for you or your kids, for the environment as a whole. Oak trees can help keep our earth beautiful and healthy, so let’s help them out and spread the love (and some acorns!)

References

Anenberg, S. C., Weinberger, K. R., Roman, H., Neumann, J. E., Crimmins, A., Fann, N., … & Kinney, P. L. (2017). Impacts of oak pollen on allergic asthma in the United States and potential influence of future climate change. GeoHealth, 1(3), 80-92.

Parker, V., & Muller, C. H. (1982). Vegetational and environmental changes beneath isolated live oak trees (Quercus agrifolia) in a California annual grassland. American Midland Naturalist, 69-81.

Smith, J. R. (1916). The oak tree and man’s environment. Geographical Review, 1(1), 3-19.

Seiler, Jeffrey E. (02, 2009). Tree Facts. NC Cooperative Extension.

When healthy, oak trees are sure to stand tall and strong. With beautiful foliage blooming in all directions, oak trees are known for their stability and sturdy barks. But sometimes, things happen, and there may be some bark falling off of your oak tree. 

Generally, peeling bark is a sign of an unhealthy oak tree. However, if healthy wood is present under the peeling bark, your oak tree may just be shedding old bark. If the bark is peeling off a branch with unhealthy wood underneath, trim it back 8-12 inches to remove the affected branch.

There are a bunch of reasons why the bark may be falling off of your tree, and there are some solutions that you can do to solve it – keep on reading to find out what they are and what you can do!

What is an Oak Tree?

First things first, what exactly is an oak tree? An oak tree is part of the Quercus family of trees and is one of the most universally known and acquired trees. An oak tree is symbolic to many cultures and provides abundance, in all forms, to humanity and wildlife. 

Oak trees are considered mast trees as they produce fruit – the acorn. Producing up to 1,000 a month and 1,000,000 in the lifetime of the tree – acorns can provide nutrition to both wildlife and humans alike. 

Oak trees have a lobed leaf that easily allows you to identify the tree. With different variations from oak tree to oak tree – lobed leaves almost look like human hands, where they have rounded or pointed projections coming from a middle area on the leaf. 

Along with the leaves, the bark of an oak tree is also used to identify what type of oak tree it is, either a Red Oak Tree or White Oak Tree.  

Red Oak Tree 

A Red Oak Tree, also called Quercus Ruba, is a type of oak tree whose leaves are more pointed than rounded. A Red Oak Tree has bitter acorns that take up to two years to mature, and their barks typically have a smoother appearance. 

White Oak Tree 

A White Oak Tree, also called Quercus Alba, is a type of oak tree whose leaves are more rounded than pointed. A White Oak Tree has a sweeter tasting acorn that only takes up to one year to mature. The bark of a White Oak Tree has a more rigid and tougher appearance. 

How to Tell If Bark is From an Oak Tree

The barks of oak trees are known for their strength and durability. The barks are what make oak trees some of the most stable trees in the world. 

Just by looking at the bark, you can easily differentiate which type of oak tree that it is. A White Oak Tree has a light gray bark, and a Red Oak Tree has a much darker, almost black in color, bark. 

A Black Oak Tree, a variation of a Red Oak Tree, also has a special feature when it comes to its bark. Sometimes considered an unofficial third category of oak because of its different bark, a Black Oak Tree’s bark is yellow/orange inside, as opposed to the red color you see inside a Red Oak Tree.

All oak tree barks have a distinct fissure or ridged look when compared to other trees. Think scales or think grooves – an oak tree’s bark appears smoother at a young age and becomes rougher as it ages. 

Further, there are hundreds of variations of oak trees out there, all that can be divided into one of these two categories – Red Oak Tree or White Oak Tree, however, apart from their category, they all have one thing in common – an Oak Tree’s bark can be used in many different ways.

If you’re struggling to tell apart from other common trees (like maple), you can read our guide on how to determine oak trees from Maple Trees here.

Why is Bark Falling off Your Oak Tree?

The question of the hour is – why is bark falling off of your oak tree? 

There are a few reasons why you may see bark peeling off of your oak tree, and the truth of the matter is – although it can be a normal scenario – it most likely can be that something not-so-great is going on with your tree. 

1. Falling Bark Can Mean an Unhealthy Oak Tree

A bark falling off of an oak tree can indicate that the oak tree is unhealthy. When barks fall from a tree, it can signal disease, or a fungus called Hypoxylon canker, that affects our hardwood trees.

If the wood that appears under the bark has fungus all over it and looks generally unhealthy – there is a good chance that the tree can be suffering from Hypoxlyon canker.

In general, hypoxlyon canker is an affliction that causes peeling bark, back to the natural wood of the tree.

If your oak tree has peeling bark, the next thing to do is to check its leaves. If the leaves are turning yellow prematurely, or if the leaves and branches look wilted and brittle. It’s time to take action.

If you’re interested, you can read our full guide to the most common oak tree diseases here.

What Should I Do If My Oak Tree is Unhealthy?

If you notice the peeling bark on the branches with an unhealthy appearance under the bark, the first thing to do is to prune those branches to limit the spread. Cut the branch 8-12 inches below the infected area for optimal results. 

Another thing to do would be to call a professional and look into vertical mulching. 

Vertical mulching is when holes are dug in a vertical pattern 20-26 inches deep and along the width of the entire tree. Vertical mulching will help with gaseous exchange. Adding a mulch mix of gravel, mulch, sand, and compost, can help with irrigation and help form feeder roots. 

Basically, the goal is to reduce stress on the tree ASAP.

Unfortunately, if more than 15% of the oak tree is affected by disease – you may need to remove the tree altogether. 

And although it may be upsetting to do, if you keep a tree that is dying, there is a risk of it falling and causing damage to your nearby properties, and the disease can spread to other nearby trees.

I recommend that you read a bit more about oak tree afflictions before digging up a tree. You can read our prevention guide to the early symptoms of a dying oak tree here.

2. Falling Bark May Indicate a Wounded Oak Tree

Another reason for peeling bark is that the oak tree is wounded.

In periods of extreme frost or extreme heat, oak trees can actually crack under pressure because of it all. Oak trees, although very resilient, do their best in stable environments – and if there are great frosts and heatwaves, especially with drought – the bark of an oak tree can crack. 

Insects and other predators can wound an oak tree and make its bark peel. Some insects, like bark beetles, can eat at the bark and cause wounds. 

What to Do if My Oak Tree is Wounded?

The thing is, if the wounds are from environmental factors, the way to get around it is by prevention. If you live in an extreme temperature area and have an oak that’s planted, you can use tree wrappings in times of great extremes. 

Using something like ZELARMAN 2 Pack Tree Protector Wraps, you can wrap the trunks and branches to help it maintain its health during these times. 

If the tree does crack, and the cracks are very narrow and few and far between, there’s a good chance your oak tree will survive, and you may not have to do anything about it – however, prevention is always a good idea. 

If your tree is wounded by bark beetles, there is a good chance the tree may need to be removed. Bark beetles live underneath the bark, and you can try insecticides to get rid of them; however, they are very hard to get rid of. 

If your tree is wounded in other ways and the wood underneath has not been affected, you can purchase wound paint to help seal the wounds, like a band-aid, so it can regrow its bark. 

Wound paint can also be used for proliferative purposes, to keep insects and destructive animals at bay, and to help with extreme environmental factors. 

You can try out this IV Organic Wound Paint that will help wounds, environmental damages and protect against insects and rodents. 

3. Falling Bark May Indicate Oak Tree Shedding

So, the good news is, if your oak tree doesn’t have any other problems other than peeling bark, there is a good chance that your oak tree can just be shedding. 

Oak trees shed their bark because they grow from the inside and out. Sometimes, the bark is peeling just to make room for growth and new bark, and if the exposed wood looks to be thriving, let the tree do its thing for a while. 

If you notice any other signs of distress, then you should take action; however, if the tree has a full canopy, is budding, is green, and looks generally strong – then your oak tree is most likely okay. 

4. Falling Bark May Indicate a Dead Oak Tree

On the contrary, the worst-case scenario of peeling bark is that there’s a chance that your oak tree may already be dead. It’s gruesome to admit, but we are not all tree experts, and we may not notice the signs until it’s too late. 

If you notice peeling bark – look up! Do you see any leaves, are there any buds coming from the branches? If not, your tree is no longer alive, and it should be removed or used for firewood.

Ideally, you want to get rid of these trees as they can cause structural damage if close to a building.

If you’re interested, you can read more about how long oak trees should live here.

What to Do if Your Oak Tree is Dead?

If your oak tree is dead – remove the tree immediately. Calling a professional, as dead trees are not easy to remove on your own (unless you’re good with a chainsaw!)

The bigger the tree, the harder it is, and you will need someone to take the tree away and take care of the dead roots.

The good news is, you can generally use these trees for firewood!

Why You Should Keep Your Oak Tree’s Bark Healthy

Apart from trees, we just love animals here at Tree Journey, so knowing that our beautiful oak trees help animals – is a wholesome feeling. 

Besides animals creating nests in their canopies and branches, sometimes, the bark of an oak tree hollows out in spots, and animals will cozy up and make their home in those hollowed-out spaces. 

With an oak tree’s ample supply of acorns and with its amazing shelter capacities, animals like squirrels, birds, chipmunks, turkeys, crows, rabbits, raccoons, wood ducks, and even deer are attracted to these oak trees, and the oak trees will provide them with abundance for years to come. We love a tree that helps our wildlife!

But the real problem occurs though when oak tree bark starts to peel, as not only can our favorite trees start to become unhealthy since an oak tree can host many life cycles and wildlife, an unhealthy oak tree can be detrimental for them.

That’s a Wrap!

The truth of the matter is if your oak tree has bark falling off, many of the reasons can lead to hazardous conditions. 

Remember, dying and unhealthy oak trees lose their stability and strength. If an oak tree loses its strength, it can fall and cause harm to any nearby structures, houses and can affect the wildlife living in the tree. 

If your oak tree is peeling bark, it can be as simple as shedding – which will not harm the tree or its surroundings, or it can be because of a bigger problem like disease, insect infestation, generally unhealthy, or wounded – and may need immediate action.

If your oak tree does have a disease, the disease can also spread to nearby trees and can cause an even bigger problem that you will need to deal with. 

When oak trees begin to peel their bark, it’s always best to take action immediately because these larger-than-life trees can directly impact their surroundings, wildlife, and, most importantly, you and your property. 

References

“Hypoxylon Canker of Oaks – What Is Hypoxylon Canker?” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 4 Mar. 2019. 

Visser, P. D. (1992). The relations between chemical composition of oak tree rings, leaf, bark, and soil solution in a partly mixed stand. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 22(12), 1824-1831.

Taib, Mehdi, et al. “Medicinal Uses, PHYTOCHEMISTRY, and Pharmacological Activities OF QUERCUS SPECIES.”