Trees

Pin oaks are an incredibly common type of tree that is used in multiple places because of their adaptability and aesthetic. Chances are high that you have probably stumbled upon one of these trees in your life if you live in the United States, no matter which state.

Pin oak trees are a member of the red oak family and are known for their odd shape when matured. Pin oaks can grow up to 12-15ft tall within 5 years. That’s as tall as 2 NBA players stacked on top of one another. Pin oak trees generally live up to 120 years and reach a full height of 60-70ft.

Pin oaks are great trees. They are seen in parks, golf courses, along streets, and multiple yards. Some may argue that they are overused, but being as they are such a solid choice, I would argue that the point is up for debate!

What Does A Pin Oak Look Like?

Pin oaks have some very distinct and unique features about them that make them so sought after. The University of Kentucky states that pin oaks are about 60-70 inches tall when they are mature but can be over 100 feet tall if they are given the right conditions (so, like the woods and not a residential area).

The width that pin oaks can spread their branches out can reach up to 40 feet but it’s more common to see them at about 25 to 30 feet.

Pin oaks, when they are fully mature, have an odd shape where their lower branches hang down (and a lot of times they will even touch the ground), their middle branches stick straight out kind of like a pair of arms and their upper branches face the sun.

They are a very well-rounded tree if you can picture it. When they are young though, they have a standard pyramid shape.

The leaves on a pin oak are glossy. In the spring and summer months, the leaves are a nice green color but when fall rolls around, they turn a red or bronze color before turning brown for the harsher, wintery months. Pin oaks actually will keep their leaves (some of them at least) throughout winter.  

The leaves are also about 4 to 6 inches long, so to picture it, they are about as long as your hand. They have anywhere from 5 to 7 lobes on them. The pin tree also produces a flower, but it shows up about the same time the leaves flourish so they are really hard to see, but an acorn is produced from the tree as a fruit.  

If you are still confused, or are simply interested in being able to identify more native trees, consider getting a book like the National Wildlife federation’s Guide To Trees Of North America.

The acorns on a pin oak are about one-half of an inch around and they are your classic acorn shape, rounded with a slight point on the end and wearing a little hat! They are reddish-brown as well.

Where Did The Pin Oak Come From?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the pin oak is Native to North America. You can find pin oaks just about anywhere in the United States today. These trees were first introduced in the 1770s and it was found that they are very easily transplanted, so they took off without a hitch and started showing up all over the country.

Characteristics Of The Pin Oak

The pin oak, as mentioned previously, is a very unique-looking plant but it has some other unique features about it as well.

For starters, the University of Kentucky says that the pin oak loves acidic soil, especially if it is well-drained also. However, it is a hardy tree when it comes to soil conditions and it will also accommodate to tolerate wet soil.

The pin oak loves full sun exposure, so you don’t have to worry about putting it in a place that needs partial shade or full shade, it can just hang out in the sun all day long and thrive. It tolerates these conditions so well because it has a very shallow root system with one central root that burrows into the ground.

Pin oaks are in zone 4 for hardiness which means it is a pretty hardy plant, it can survive in places that are warm and hot during the day but where the temperatures dip down at night and it can also tolerate places where there are winter months that can get pretty intense in their cold weather.  

It is one of the fastest-growing oak trees in the world because it can grow an amazing 12 to 15 feet in just 5 years. That is 2 NBA players stacked on top of each other in just 5 years, how insane is that?

The SRS explains that the pin oak is monoecious, meaning that it has both male and female reproductive organs on the same tree. While many trees rely on bees for pollination, not the pin oak. This tree relies on the wind to move the pollen for it to other trees.  

Furthermore, the United States Department of Agriculture explains that the pin oak doesn’t have many predators or pests to bother it, just your typical bugs but nothing too serious. They are also seen as very useful plants.

They are useful because they are good for not only decoration and residential areas, but they are a strong and heavy cut of wood that is fantastic for things like fuel for wood stoves and furnaces as well as (fun fact) railroad ties because they are super strong and can warp as well, conforming to their job at hand.  

Young deer like to munch on the acorns from pin oaks, so many times hunters will use them in their food plots to help lure deer into their property before hunting season. Deer also really enjoy eating them when they are young saplings.  

Full Tree Lifespan: A Timeline Of The Pin Oak

Since the pin oak is a tree that grows up so fast, there are not too many steps in the growing timeline. Essentially, once it is planted and takes off growing, it just needs to mature to have fruit that can reproduce and make other trees.

The Beginning Of A Pin Oak’s Growth

The SRS gives a great snapshot of the growing timeline. First, a tree has to be old enough and mature enough to have a fertile acorn that is capable of growing a tree. A pin oak can have a good acorn for growth at about 15 years old, but it is more common to see it closer to 20 years old.

Acorns start to form on the mature, adult trees in the springtime, month-wise, it is about late April to early May. They fall more towards the end of May and the way that the seeds are spread around (other than just dropping to the ground) is actually by those super cool little scavengers, our friends the squirrel.

The squirrel will usually move these acorns to their final resting place to grow between September and December. Once they are buried in the ground and ready to grow, they have a growing phase, or a stratification phase, of about a month, give or take (the statistic is 30-45 days under the soil to sprout).

These little acorns like it when the temperature they are working with during that stratification phase is about 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Considering the time they drop, this isn’t an unreasonable request for them to their new homes.  

The pin oak goes through hypogeal germination which is a fancy term meaning that the cotyledon (a fancy name for a part of the stem) stays under the ground when the seed germinates.

For more information on how to grow a pin oak of your very own, check out this article on How to Grow An Oak Tree From An Acorn (6 Easy Steps).

This doesn’t sound too important, but it’s an odd fun fact for the pin oak because usually if a plant has hypogeal germination, it grows slowly when this tree does the opposite. 

If you wish to have a pin oak tree of your very own, consider getting something like these Pin Oak Tree Seeds, or even this Medium-Sized Pin Oak Tree Seedling.

Early Growing Stages Of Pin Oak Trees

Now, on average, these pin oak trees will have about 8,650 new seedling trees per every 3,500 acres of land but that does not mean that they all grow and survive. Just like any species, they are subject to a lot when they are brand new to the world.

Actually, a lot of the time more than one pin oak sprout will pop up in the same place and the dominant sprout will grow while the others grow more slowly on their stump and if the more dominant (or parent) sprout doesn’t make it, they jump right in and take its place.

So realistically, let’s say that 5 or 6 of these plants all grow in the same place and only one makes it, that can cut down your numbers.

In the early stages, first-year seedlings are prone to get flooded out. They have such shallow roots, so it does not take much to flood them out. However, since it is such a common problem for them to have, there is also a common solution that they use to get through it.

Their little, shallow roots will just cease to exist almost when they get flooded out. They do not grow, but they also do not stop living there. They will hold on for up to 84 days. Eighty. Four. Days. I don’t know about you, but I think that is incredible. They will wait 84 days for the flooding to go away to continue to grow.

Maturation And Aging Of Pin Oaks

Like it was said previously, these bad boys grow so fast. By their second year of thriving and chilling as saplings, they now have a pretty established and strong root system, and that one grounding root has sunk into the earth and claimed its territory.

They grow, again, about 12 to 15 feet in the first 5 years. That’s an average of 2 to 3 feet per year. This makes me think of a child and how fast they grow, and think if your child were to grow 2 to 3 feet in a year. It is incredible how fast these trees can grow!

Although they can sprout up in height, they, unfortunately, do not mature as quickly as they grow. It takes about 15 years for them to be fully matured and ready to disperse acorns that will plant more trees.  

Once these pin oaks get to about as tall as they can grow, you will start to see their unique shape starting to form. They will start to sag in their lower branches and their middle branches will scratch out and fan. The pin oak doesn’t get big thick branches like other oaks, they are pretty delicate and thin. 

If you have a fallen oak you don’t know what to do with, consider reading this article on the 9 Best Fallen Oak Tree Uses.

Blooming, Fruiting, Maturity Of A Pin Oak Tree

The pin oak has a lot of time to fully mature and because of that, it also has a lot of time to figure out the seasons and when it is supposed to bloom, drop acorns, all of the things it needs to do to survive.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources discusses that the blooming season for pin oaks occurs in mid-spring, closer to May than any other month. They bloom and then fruit a few months later in the heat of the summer, in about July and even into early September. 

They are the easiest to identify and pick out during May to September because that is when the tree is doing all of the big tasks it needs to get done for the year. This is also when the leaves will start to change (into September more so than the summer season) when the autumn weather starts to make its way into town.

These pin oaks are perennials, which is a term meaning that they last for a long time and that they will bloom again in the next blooming season. Usually, for plants, it means they will be dormant or just be a bulb under the ground but will bloom again come the spring.  

For a tree, specifically the pin oak in question, it means they will lose their leaves (pin oaks keep most of them in the winter months though) and then bloom again when the conditions are right in the spring season to show off their beautiful glossy, green leaves again.  

Wrapping Up

In closing, the pin oak is a great tree to have around. It does not attract too many pests, although some animals do find their acorns to be a tasty treat. It provides a great spot for shade through the grueling summer months and it doesn’t mind at all if it suffers in the sunshine, it prefers that over the shade you’ll be sitting in underneath of it.

It is aesthetically pleasing, scattered all over residential areas for just that reason. Pin oak trees grow well in almost any soil and it is a hardy tree that can survive the elements. They can survive the heat, the cold and even flooding for an incredible period of 84 days.

While they do grow tall quickly, maturing takes a bit longer but it is worth it to have such a great tree nearby. Take a look around your local park next time you are there and the chances are pretty high that you will see a pin oak there. 

If you’d like to learn more about the timeline for growing other oak trees, make sure to take a look at our guide: How Long Does It Take to Grow an Oak Tree? Full Timeline.

References

Dale M. Maronek, James W. Hendrix, Cathy D. Stevens. (1981). Fertility-mycorrhizal-isolate interactions in the production of containerized pin oak seedlings. Scientia Horticulturae. Volume 15, Issue 3. Pages 283-289. ISSN 0304-4238.

Henderson, D.E.; Botch, P.; Cussimanio, J.; Ryan, D.; Kabrick, J.; Dey, D. 2009. Growth and mortality of pin oak and pecan reforestation in a constructed wetland: analysis with management implications. Science and Management Technical Series: Number 1. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, MO. Pg 19. 

Himelick, E. Watson, G. (2004). Effects of soil pH, root density, and tree growth regulator treatments on pin oak chlorosis. Journal of Arboriculture. 30 (3). Pgs. 172-178.

M. Boyer, J. Miller, M. Belanger, E. Hare, Jiyou Wu. (2008). Senescence and spectral reflectance in leaves of northern pin oak. (Quercus palustris Muenchh.). Remote Sensing of Environment, Volume 25, Issue 1. Pages 71-87. ISSN 0034-4257.

For some homeowners, ball moss on an oak tree is a mark of character; for others, it’s an eyesore. A common plant that grows on the branches of oaks, it can quickly overwhelm its host tree. But, is ball moss helpful or harmful to an oak tree?

Ball moss is helpful because it converts nitrogen into a nutrient, adding it to the soil. Contrarily, it’s harmful because it potentially weakens an oak tree. Ball moss is removed through picking, pruning, and spraying. Using all three techniques is best for removing and prevention.

Keep reading to discover more about what ball moss is, the different ways in which it harms and helps oak trees as well as how to manage it on the oak trees in your yard.

What Is Ball Moss?

Ball moss is a flowering plant from the Bromeliaceae family that often grows on the branches of oak trees. It can even grow on power lines, fences, or rocks. Ball moss is sometimes mistaken for a jumble of Spanish moss, which hangs from tree limbs like a long, wispy beard. 

If you are having trouble figuring out what moss is growing on your oak tree, you should check out one of our popular articles, Moss On Your Oak Tree: Identification And Removal Guide.

Ball Moss Is An Epiphyte: A Non-Parasitic Air Plant

Neither ball moss nor Spanish moss is actual moss, though. They’re epiphytes, which are also known as air plants. They grow on structures and other vegetation with pseudo-roots. 

These pseudo-roots don’t take in nutrients or water as tree roots do. Instead, they provide an anchor that attaches the plant to the surface. This fact leads some homeowners to think that ball moss is a parasite.

Here’s the truth: ball moss isn’t a parasite. When a parasite attaches itself to a living organism, it collects food from that organism – usually at the host’s expense. Since ball moss can thrive on non-living structures such as power lines, it’s clear that it doesn’t receive nourishment from its physical supporters.

With its leaves, ball moss absorbs water from rainfall in addition to water vapor from the air. This acquisition allows ball moss to quickly grow from its fastened perch. This epiphyte also grabs most of its nutrients from the debris or dust that aggregates on the host plant or structure. Some minerals are absorbed from rainfall, too.

Ball Moss Needs A High Humidity Environment

Most air plants thrive in tropical regions with plenty of sunlight and high humidity. Living among shaded tropical vegetation, air plants seize nutrients from the organic detritus that gathers in a tree canopy. Many of these air plants are flowering plants or angiosperms, which include orchids and other plants in the pineapple family.

Air plants such as mosses, liverworts, and ferns thrive in both mild and tropical areas. Interestingly, ball moss is the only air plant that is found to also live in arid regions. This includes the deserts along Mexico’s western coast where ball moss absorbs water from the oceanic fog.

Specifically, ball moss grows in regions with high humidity, little airflow, and reduced light intensity. These conditions often match the canopy underside of numerous shade trees like oaks. Since trees typically grow leaves and other vegetation toward the end of their branches, their central limbs are often empty; this interior area leaves a perfect place for ball moss to attach itself and flourish.

If you wish to keep ball moss alive in a more controlled area such as a greenhouse, you can try a handheld mister such as this Ebristar Glass Plant Mister.

Air plants like ball moss require the wind to disperse their feather-like seeds. Animals can disperse these seeds as well. The dispersal range of it’s seeds is vast. Currently, ball moss extends from the Southern United States to Chile and Argentina. 

Ball moss is often seen in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Arizona, Texas as well as Mexico, and most of Central and South America. This air plant is a staple on many southern live oak trees, even ones that are declining or expired. This causes a few homeowners to assume that ball moss is responsible for the deterioration of these oaks.

Is Ball Moss Helpful Or Harmful To Oak Trees?

Ball moss grows in the central canopy of healthy oaks as well as sickly ones. The air plant is easier to spot in the oaks that are ill, leading to a common misperception that ball moss is harmful to the trees. Examining the misperceptions, benefits, and disadvantages of this moss can help you decide whether this air plant is good for your yard’s oak trees.

Misperceptions About Ball Moss

These are four common misperceptions about ball moss:

1. Ball moss is a parasite. As a reminder, ball moss isn’t parasitic. It’s not actively harming an oak tree by stealing its nutrients (as a parasite does). Ball moss absorbs its nutrients from the atmosphere.
   
2. Ball moss is responsible for a thinning tree canopy. It isn’t responsible for thinning an oak tree canopy. Insufficient drainage, disease, and compacted soil are much more likely suspects for a thinning tree canopy.
   
3. Ball moss deteriorates an oak tree’s health by blocking the leaves’ access to sunlight. There’s no direct evidence that this is the case. Especially since ball moss populates in the interior part of the canopy (where the oak tree’s limbs are bare), it isn’t competing with the oak’s leaves that are growing at the end of the tree’s branches.
   
4. Ball moss causes an oak tree’s limbs to break. Branches infested with ball moss can indeed break off from the tree due to the additional weight, especially if it’s rainy or windy. These branches, however, are typically dead or dying before the ball moss was on the tree. Interior limbs usually die because of little sunlight, regardless of the presence of ball moss.

Benefits Of Ball Moss

Ball moss offers some benefits to your yard’s oak trees. Birds can use a big cluster of ball moss as shelter. (This tends to happen if the cluster is near their nest.) Ball moss can also attract insects to the oak tree, and birds can enjoy these critters for their meals.

In addition, ball moss takes in nitrogen from the atmosphere and converts it into a nutrient. The nutrient is added to the soil at the tree’s base. This benefits the oak and all surrounding vegetation. 

Cosmetically, some homeowners even like the look of ball moss on an oak tree. These individuals say that it adds character to the tree. For them, ball moss provides an august quality to a mature oak tree.

Disadvantages Of Ball Moss

There are several disadvantages to ball mass growing in your yard’s oak trees. Some homeowners say that ball moss can weaken oak trees, which could lead to the trees’ premature decline. This might be caused by the tendrils on ball moss: they envelop the branches and stems of the tree to successfully affix the air plant to a branch. 

As the ball moss grows, these tendrils can intensify their grip. This can decrease circulation in the tree. Also, it’s conceivable that severe infestations can slow down the development of new buds and shoots on a tree.

Another disadvantage is that once ball moss attaches itself to a tree, it can spread to other trees in the locale. Since ball moss requires wind for seed distribution, it’s not too hard for the plant to get around. This can quickly lead to an overabundance in one small area.

Also, on a cosmetic level, some homeowners dislike the look of ball moss on a tree. They think that the air plant detracts from the natural allure of the tree. Some of them might even call it an eyesore.

What Is The Removal Process For Ball Moss?

If you decide that the disadvantages of this air plant outweigh its benefits, or that ball moss in your yard’s oak trees is too unsightly, then it’s time to learn about the removal process. Traditionally, there are three ways that you can remove ball mass from your oak tree. These techniques include picking, pruning, and spraying. 

On its own, each technique isn’t enough to entirely remove ball moss from your tree nor prevent its return. The best approach is to incorporate the three techniques in your removal process. Each technique – as well as an integrated approach – is detailed below.

Picking And Pruning Ball Moss

Picking requires pulling off each ball moss from the tree, usually one by one. Undoubtedly, this is laborious and time-consuming. This technique could be hazardous if you’re not using an aerial work platform or cherry picker; however, it can be effective in removing the ball moss from your oak tree.

Pruning is another technique that involves cutting away the dead or dying interior limbs from the oak tree and completely removing them. Since ball moss mostly grows on these dead branches, you’ll remove nearly all of the moss from your oak tree this way. This takes time, and you might want to hire a professional tree trimmer to do it.

Furthermore, ball moss thrives in conditions with reduced light intensity. If you choose to lightly thin the canopy of the oak tree while pruning, more sunlight will hit the central area of the tree, which will deter another infestation of ball moss. After pruning, make sure to use a pruning seal on the cuts because this prevents the spread of oak wilt.

For picking moss that is especially high up on the tree you could use a product like this RMS 34 Inch Extra Long Grabber.

Oak wilt is caused by beetles that bore into wood. They’re drawn to oak trees’ sap, and fresh cuts on oak trees attract their attention. The beetles’ bodies carry a fungus that generates oak wilt; so, wherever the beetles go, oak wilt will also spread. 

This is why it’s crucial to use a pruning seal on any cuts made while pruning your oak tree. The timing of pruning your oak tree also matters regarding to preventing the spread of oak wilt disease. The beetles are most active in moderate weather, so it’s recommended to prune your oak during the middle of summer or winter.

Removing Ball Moss By Spraying

Spraying includes lightly showering a chemical to your oak tree using a foliar spray. A copper-based fungicide is one chemical option. Copper-based fungicide is designed to eliminate ball moss on oak trees. 

You’ll apply the spray in the spring when the ball moss is readily growing. Avoid using more than the recommended amount because too much of this chemical could damage your oak tree. In five to seven days, the ball moss will no longer grow. 

It’s important to note that copper-based fungicide may drift during use. This can cause damage to vegetation that’s near the sprayed oak tree. Furthermore, it can also cause damage to metal surfaces, such as outdoor furniture. 

On the other hand, if you are looking to use homemade or dilutable sprays, you could easily disperse them with this CHAPIN Garden Sprayer!

Additionally, copper-based fungicides mark surfaces they touch with a blue stain. Take extra precautions if you’re spraying close to buildings and other outdoor objects. Given all of these considerations, while using a copper-based fungicide, you might want to hire a landscape professional to take on the job.

After the fungicide is applied, the ball moss will not promptly fall from the oak tree. Rather, it will slowly fall away as the year progresses. It may need the force from a rainstorm or a wind gust to push it out.

If you don’t want to wait for the ball moss to naturally fall from the tree, you can remove the air plant with a hose. You’ll simply attach a high-pressure nozzle to your water hose, turn on the water and direct the water stream at the ball moss. As you do so, be careful to not shoot off the tree’s bark or break any branches. Also, avoid using hot water because it can harm the tree.

For more natural treatment of ball moss, you can also use baking soda and water. You’ll add half of a pound of baking soda per every one gallon of water. For example, if you plan to use four gallons of water, then you’ll need two pounds of baking soda. Add this mixture to your sprayer, and directly spray all of the areas where the ball moss is growing on the tree.

The Best Approach To Removal: Pick, Prune, And Spray Ball Moss

Incorporating the three removal techniques for ball moss – pricking, pruning, and spraying – is the best approach to eliminating the air plant from your oak tree. This integrated method will also prevent ball moss from coming back. Starting to pick the moss is effective in removing it from the tree, but it won’t prevent the air plant from returning to the tree.

This is why pruning, in addition to picking, is essential. Removing the deadwood from your oak tree eliminates the opportunity for ball moss to attach itself to the interior branches. It also provides overall health maintenance for the tree.

Spraying ball moss can be done after pruning your oak tree. Using either a copper-based fungicide or baking soda and water, spraying stops ball moss from growing. Spraying can also curb the likelihood of a future infestation.

That’s A Wrap!

Ball moss is either a beauty mark or a nuisance for oak trees depending on a homeowner’s aesthetic and preference. Ball moss is helpful because it converts nitrogen into a nutrient, adding it to the soil underneath an oak tree. Yet, it’s also harmful because it potentially weakens the oak in which it resides. 

If you are dealing with other types of moss, you should look our other poplar moss article: Spanish Moss On Your Oak Tree: Here’s What To Do.

Removing ball moss through picking, pruning and spraying are effective in removing it and preventing its return. The best results include using all three of these techniques. The finest management of ball moss ultimately rests in your opinion about the non-parasitic air plant.

References:

Arny, Nancy P. Spanish moss and ball moss. University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, EDIS, 1996.

Birge, Willie Isabella. The Anatomy and Some Biological Aspects of the” Ball Moss,”: Tillandsia recurvata L. No. 20. University of Texas, 1911.

Harvey, Celia A. “Patterns of seed colonization and seedling establishment of ball moss (Tillandsia recurvata) on sand live oak trees (Quercus geminata) in Central Florida.” Florida Scientist (1996): 76-81.

When oaks trees are fully covered in leaves, you may wonder just how many leaves they have. They grow quite old, sometimes over 100 years easily and, some species over 1000. Let’s answer the question of how many leaves are on a full grown oak tree and more amazing facts.  

A full grown oak tree can have anywhere from thousands of leaves up to even 1 million leaves. Oak trees are considered fully grown at 30-40 years. To get the approximate number of leaves on your tree, measure the width of the oak under the crown. For every 25 feet, oak trees have approximately 30,000 leaves.

Read on to find out facts you will want to know about your full-grown oak tree, including tree/leaf maintenance and identifying oak trees!

How Do I Measure My Oak Tree To Know How Many Leaves Are On It?

So, to actually measure your oak tree and understand just how many leaves that you may have to rake up when they all fall, you’ll first need to actually MEASURE your oak tree.

To do this, you’ll ideally want a soft measuring tape as opposed to a hard one so it will wrap accurately and tightly around your oak tree. A good soft measuring tape option is LAND’s Open Reel Fiberglass Tape Measure which will give you more than enough room to measure your tree.

Next, you’ll want to take the measuring tape and wrap it around the thickest part of the trunk near the base of the tree. You won’t want to measure all the way at the bottom of the trunk near the ground, but somewhere near chest level for you.

You can also get a ladder and measure directly in the middle of the tree but, this isn’t really worth it unless you need the most accurate measurement possible.

To measure your oak tree to see how many leaves it has, wrap your soft measuring tape around the tree to get it’s total circumference. Divide the total feet by 25ft, and multiply that number by 30,000. This will give you a rough estimate of how many leaves you have on your tree.

For example, if your oak tree is approximately 26ft around the trunk of the tree, your oak tree may have around 31,200 leaves.

You could additionally do this will ALL the oak tree on your property, and learn just how many rakes you’ll need to get this year!

With that being said, now is a great time to mention our guide on oak tree leaves called: How Big Do Oak Tree Leaves Get? Leaf Identification

What Is Special About An Oak Tree?

The grand oak tree is a symbol of great strength and wisdom. A member of the Quercus genus, there are up to 800 different species native to the Northern hemisphere. 

The oak tree is important for both humans and beasts all over the planet. Natural medical practitioners have used its bark in specialized ways for many years.

It yields acorns which is a food source for animals. They find them in large groups, which then provide shelter to many species of animals.

Next time you look at art involving trees–the oak is showcased many times over. A brush on canvas complements the lines and twists of oak trees.

Why Should I Plant An Oak Tree?

The Oak Tree Is A Generational Tree

If you have a property you want to make a garden, something generations to come can enjoy, then any appropriate species of oak fits well. So this is the first reason to plant an oak tree specifically. 

You can buy seeds like the White Oak Tree Seeds for Planting by The CZ Grain Company. It comes with 10 large acorns, which should be stratified for 30-60 days after you receive them. They include a video link and paper instructions with each order as well!

This article, How To Grow An Oak Tree From An Acorn (6 Easy Steps), would also be a fantastic guide throughout your journey. If you decide to plant an oak tree, give it a read!

The reason we are referring to the oak tree as generational is it’s still at the beginning of its lifespan at 30-40 years of age; when humans are middle-aged–the oak tree is just getting started!

This means if you plant it when you are in your 20s or younger, your grandchildren and their kids can enjoy the full-grown oak tree! 

Regardless of when you plant, you may still want to plant them all over the property properly, which we will get into next. Then you can enjoy a full fall color show from the bold and beautiful seasonal leaf turning. 

You Will Enjoy The Fall Leaf Colors

From the very first year, the oak trees show off their colors! Some are more muted and others are brilliant and bright! 

Kids love the memories of playing in the oak leaves!

Oak Trees Can Typically Live 200 Years

Around the globe, they have found species as old as 1000 years old. Like this article about the British oak. So you are not only creating history for your family but creating oxygen for the planet and helping the ecosystem greatly. 

They do not have many issues as they grow, but you must take care of them properly. This is especially true if you are planting them from the acorn, which we will get into later. 

They grow healthy and vibrant from the start and even in their last days–a century or more–they stay gorgeous. Yes, identifying a dying tree without a professional can be difficult. 

Oak Trees Provide A Habitat For Many Creatures

If you want to draw creatures to your yard, then for sure, plant some oak trees! Squirrel and deer and the most common of the acorn marauders.

Oak trees attract over 100 vertebrate species of animals in the US.

Some creatures that live in oak trees are:

• Squirrels- especially flying squirrels and grey or red squirrels.
• Chipmunks
• Wood Ducks
• Blue Jays
• Crows. 
• Quails
• Wild Turkeys
• Rabbits
• Raccoons
• Possums

You can read more about what creatures live in trees in our article: 9 Different Animals And Insects That Live In Trees

Oak Trees Are Fairly Low Maintenance

All you need to do is read up on how to take care of the Oak, and let them grow! There is not a lot you need to do with this practically self-maintaining tree. Infestations or diseases are not something you have to worry much about with oak trees.

Oak tree diseases are not unheard of though. You can learn more about the most common issues here in our article: What’s Wrong With My Oak Tree? 10 Most Common Oak Diseases

How To Maintain An Oak Tree

As we mentioned in the last point, the oak tree does not need a lot of maintenance, but there are some very important things you should do. It is still possible to stunt the growth of your oak tree or harm it in other ways.

• The Root Zone: The root zone is the area 6 feet from the trunk. If possible, maintain an additional ⅓ of the distance from the edge of the foliage. This area is commonly called the drip line. 

Make sure you keep things off of those areas and do not dig or interrupt them. This is the root zone, which is where food, water, and airflow must be free to feed the tree.

• Low Pruning Your Oak Tree: The full-grown oak only needs to be pruned in the dry season and to get rid of dead or weak branches. You do not want one of those big heavy things dropping on you or someone else–it’s a lawsuit or worse.

• Irrigation of your Oak Tree: Go to the outer edge ⅔ the way from the root zone and water the area deeply. To keep the weeds from drawing nutrients and water away from the tree root system–put down organic mulch. 

• Fertilization: If you have a new tree, you can use fertilization to establish it quicker. Hire a professional to do it properly to make sure the tree stays healthy. 

On the mature oak tree, you will not have to fertilize unless there is unusually poor growth or disease. This TreeHelp Annual Care Kit for Oak is a great place to start with a new tree though. It is a complete care package for all your tree’s needs.

• Planting around the Oak: Use drought-tolerant plants only. Never plant around the root system or up against the tree. Remember to leave the 6-foot radius around the tree. 

7 Amazing Facts About Oak Trees

1. Oak trees have two categories.

Oak trees can be considered trees or shrubs. Yup, you heard right. 

This is because they can reach a towering height of 148 feet, which accounts for the tree title. Besides, they look a lot more like a tree than a shrub. 

However, their branches also sprawl out quite far and can have branches from near the ground to touching the sky! 

2. Oak trees have lived on the planet for 65 million years. 

Their leaves and acorns, which are the hard shell the seed comes in, are coated with tannic acid.

No fungi or any other creepy business lives through it, so they slime on out of there! 

3. They can live 7-10 centuries! Which is 700 to 1000 years. Could you imagine? On one hand, this is not a long time and on another–it seems like forever compared to the time humans have on the planet.

4. Oak trees produce 10 million acorns, the hard-shelled nut-like thing that falls from an oak tree. It contains one seed, which becomes a tree in the right conditions. However, the wildlife who enjoy them eat a majority of the acorns.

These acorns can have many amazing uses, which you can read about here: 9 Amazing Fallen Acorn Uses (And What to Do With Them).

Dogs, horses, and other large animals cannot eat them. They can be deadly. 

5. Oak trees have over 600 species. The Americas, including Mexico, have a good number of these species. Mexico has 160 endemic species, and in North America, there are 90.

6. Mandeville Louisiana houses the largest oak tree still alive. Professionals have also estimated it to be approximately 1500 years old. So, if it is true, then it knocks out the record for 1000 years.

7. Wine barrels are made from oak wood because it is the best wood to age wine in. The wood can give a coconut, vanilla, and smoky tinge to the wine. This is a tradition people have carried on throughout centuries.  

8. Like Truffles with your wine? You have oak trees to thank for them. 

How Do You Identify An Oak Tree?

There are tons of big and amazing-looking trees around. However, many species fall into the oak tree category. If you think you have one or are walking through nature and want to identify one, then do read on! 

You can find oak trees in North America, Mexico, Europe, and Asia, to name a few. Some are deciduous, while others are evergreen or semi-evergreen. Some are trees and some are classed as shrubs. 

They can survive very well in hot tropical or cold climates. They are by far one of the heartiest, if not the absolute hardiest, of all the trees in the tree kingdom. Sort of the green king of the jungle. 

Red And White Oaks

The first step is to identify which oak trees are growing in your region. Let’s use North America as an example here. 

Here, you would look for two types of oak trees. The red and the white oak tree. 

For the red oak, you would look for darker bark like a tanner color and lobed leaves, which come to a point sort of like a maple leaf. Though oak leaves are skinnier than maple. 

The white oak has a lighter bark with more rounded lobes. Between the lobes lie sinuses. They can be deep or shallow and will give the lobes their character. 

For a more detailed look at these two types of oak tree, consider reading Red Oak vs. White Oak Tree Growth Rate & Key Differences!

Using Leaves To Identify Oak Trees

Some evergreen species are smoother without sinuses and have a more fluid look with little shape.

The branches on an oak will grow from one central location and branch out. The leaves are more spiral from the stem and will never appear flat. 

The geographic region and the appearance of acorns are also important to identify oak trees.

The leaf color should also correspond to the season. The green leaves appear in summer–the red leaves appear in the fall and the brown in winter. This is a great telltale sign you have an oak. 

Of course, match the leaves up with the two possible shapes we mentioned along with the other facts we provided to decide if you have an oak tree.

If it’s in the early spring and you spot pinkish leaves, wait to see if they turn green shortly. This is another way to be sure. 

Oaks love their leaves and hate to part with them. Though you would not know it by the amount of them you may have to rake and bag. However, a young tree will hold its leaf stock well into spring and older trees will still wait until the new tender baby leaves come out.

Oak leaves decay at a much slower rate than other species of tree. They are great for self-fertilization. The oak needs no fertilizer unless something unusual like disease and poor growth happens. By understanding these facts, you will see how incredible this tree is. 

Oak leaves can also vary in size, among other things, and are actually generally targeted by insects of all types. To learn more about what happens, check out our guide: 5 Animals & Insects That Eat Oak Tree Leaves

Why Is There A Decline In Oak Trees?

Oak trees are in decline mostly because of our climate changes causing prolonged droughts. This can cause fires, and soil issues caused by humans moving in on vast territories are the cause for some other factors. 

Typically, apart from a direct hit from fire, oak trees can withstand some of these things, but fungi, infestations, and disease follow. That is just too much for an oak tree. 

We have no affiliation with them, but if you are a tree lover and want to help, you could join a charity of your choice like Save The Oaks who, according to their website, save saplings.

That’s A Wrap!

Well, that’s all we’ve got! We hope you have as much fun identifying and learning about Oak trees as we have teaching you. They are a majestic creation that deserves our reverence and protection. 

References

Reyes-French, G., & Cohen, T. J. (1991). A Mitigation Process for Impacts of the All American Pipeline on Oak Woodlands in Santa Barbara County. In: Standiford, Richard B., Tech. Coord. 1991. Proceedings of the Symposium on Oak Woodlands and Hardwood Rangeland Management; October 31 – November 2, 1990; Davis, California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-126. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; P. 255-261, 126.

Dagit, R., Carlberg, C., Cuba, C., & Scott, T. (2015). Economic incentives for oak woodland preservation and conservation. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-251. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 457-469, 251, 457–469.

Light, R. H., & Pedroni, L. E. (2002). When oak ordinances fail: unaddressed issues of oak conservation. In: Standiford, Richard B., et Al, Tech. Editor. Proceedings of the Fifth Symposium on Oak Woodlands: Oaks in California’s Challenging Landscape. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-184, Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 483-500, 184.

One of the most popular trees out there, oaks are a fixture throughout the many wooded areas of the world. It’s no wonder that these trees pop up so often, whether you see them as young trees beginning to grow in a developing neighborhood or as ancient beings with hundreds of years of life experiences behind them.

Oak trees typically fall due to old age, wind, or lightning strikes. Typically, you can still use most fallen oak tree wood on your property! The best fallen oak tree uses include cutting the wood for firewood, turning the oak wood into mulch, and using the wood for creative landscaping.

So, without further adieu, let’s discuss what to do with a fallen oak tree if it so happens to fall in your area. Are you ready? We are! Let’s get into the 9 BEST fallen oak tree uses and what to do with them. 

What Is An Oak Tree? 

Oak trees have around 500 subspecies of trees and shrubs that are distributed throughout the world. 

These trees contain both female and male flowers, which reproduce to create an acorn, the ‘oak nut’ which acts as the seed of the tree. 

There are so many types of oaks, each of which is good for different things. Both red and white oaks (the two main categories that subspecies fall into) are commonly used for lumber when cut down, producing furniture and flooring while also being used in millwork, construction, and more. 

If you wish to grow your own oak tree for aesthetic or practical purposes, something like these Red Oak Tree Seeds from CZ Grain could help get you started!

What happens when the oak tree is not intentionally cut down for use but falls for whatever external reason? 

We’ve got you covered! Let’s dive into what you should do when a tree first falls on your property. 

What Do You Do With A Fallen Tree In Your Yard?

One of the first things you’ll want to do when dealing with a fallen tree is inspected the wood of the tree. It’s important to know that you cannot necessarily repurpose every tree. Some factors might render the wood unusable, unfortunately. 

For example, if a fallen tree ends up having been infested by insects or disease, the wood will likely be rotten, brittle, or both. This weak wood will be poor to use, especially if you were hoping to create furniture or any other weight-bearing pieces from it. 

If you are creating nicknacks, you may be able to recover some sections of wood to use for more craft-based purposes. This should be done at your discretion, and with the understanding that the wood may not be as easily worked with as you might hope. 

It can be disheartening to have to completely lose a tree and not be able to repurpose its wood, but sometimes it is worth the loss to avoid further issues or injury down the road with wood that is not reliable.

If you believe that your tree may have fallen due to pest or fungus damage, you could do a little research by reading similar articles from us such as 5 Animals & Insects That Eat Oak Leaves, or 6 Simple Tips To Prevent And Remove Oak Tree Fungus to learn more!

9 Amazing Fallen Oak Tree Uses

From furniture to home decor, functionality to aesthetics, reusing wood from fallen oak trees can serve as an environmentally conscious, cost-effective way to spruce up any area. 

If you have a fallen tree, it’s time to spring into action and make use of the wood while it’s still relatively fresh. After a while, you may not have a choice between leaving the tree to nature and using it for yourself- animals move quickly, too!

Here are 9 of the best ways that you can use the wood of fallen oak trees.

Cut Fallen Oak Into Firewood

Looking for a simple, not super time-consuming, way to get a fallen tree taken care of while still reaping the benefits of all your newly gained access to completely free oak wood? 

Chop the wood up and get yourself tons of firewood. Depending on the size of the tree, the temperature of your location, and the frequency that you have fires- this firewood has the potential to last you for quite a long time. 

Also dependent upon the type of equipment and experience you have, you might hire someone to help you break the tree up into pieces that have a firewood-sized width or length. Use an ax (or a woodcutter, this is easier if you have access to one) to break those pieces up into little logs that will fit into a bonfire or a fireplace and burn evenly. 

If you want to invest in a great tool for cutting up wood, you could get something like this INTERTOOL 35-Inch Splitting Maul.

One thing to consider, that the University of Kentucky reminds us of, is that your firewood will need to dry out. You can’t just chop up a fallen tree and throw it into the fire- this will create smoke and your fire is likely to fizzle out in a hazy plume. 

If you have access to a kiln, you could very quickly speed up the drying process. Most likely, you will just need to practice some patience and plan on using this firewood next year.

Fresh firewood pieces will take anywhere from 6 months to a year to dry out. Hey- we said that chopping the firewood wouldn’t take super long, this is a whole different part of the process!

Store your firewood until it can be used, mindful of the fact that a tarp can be placed over the stacks of wood to ensure that no more moisture gets into it. 

Finally, enjoy nice nights outside roasting marshmallows, or a cozy evening in front of the fireplace with some movies. Either way, this is a relatively simple method to handle a fallen oak tree that is practical and fun- all in one!

If you’re interested, take a look at our guide: 10 Best Oak Trees for Firewood Ranked to learn more about the best oak firewood!

Create Furniture That Is Eco-Friendly And Unique From Fallen Trees

You don’t have to burn the wood that you cut down. 

If you have any experience or are committed to learning how to woodwork- this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

You could build a set of patio chairs that reflect the transformation of your tree while allowing it to stay in your backyard, or on your property somewhere. 

If your home has more of a rustic feel, or you’re hoping to incorporate your fallen oak tree into the interior where it can remain well-preserved, perhaps a rocking chair or lounging chair in the corner would be a better fit. 

While there are many factors, from sanding to staining, that take place as the furniture itself is being built- you can be sure that you will have a piece that not only looks great but is also a fun conversation topic. 

Maybe you prefer to keep it simpler (and less weight-bearing) and build a little slanted shelf that could hold a few books or some blankets in your living room. 

Whatever furniture you pick will be unique, and authentically yours, bringing nature and your old tree and turning them into something that you can continue to use and appreciate.

You get to know where your wood was sourced from while making all other decisions about everything from design to comfort and where you want to display your newest furniture piece (or pieces, if you’re feeling ambitious.)

Create Other Unique Household Items With Fallen Oak Trees

Did you think it was just furniture you could make out of your fallen oak tree? No way!

So, what else could you make, in that case?

Let’s talk about a few of the unique household items you’d be able to create using your fallen oak tree’s wood.

Oak Coasters

You could create some really beautiful yet functional pieces by cutting some branches into little cylinders that are ½ inch to an inch in height.

Sand them and treat them however you see fit, and voila! You’ve got yourself some coasters that are great for a coffee table, or wherever else in your home drinks tend to get placed on bare surfaces. 

These coasters will go together, of course, but will each vary in a way that makes them fun and unique. No cookie-cutter pieces here!

Oak Tree Cutting Boards

Speaking of ‘cutting’, you could make some wonderful cutting boards out of this wood. 

Perhaps you just want one, or maybe you’ll decide to create a 5-piece set of different-sized cutting boards that can be used on all occasions. Say goodbye to plastic cutting boards and hello to durable yet-replaceable ones that should last you quite some time.

Oak Picture Frames

Looking for something that can be a bit more purely decorative? We’ve got you!

What could be better than a photo of you and a loved one, or some beautiful landscape, or a degree, surrounded by natural oak wood that frames it? The oak wood frames you use on a photo fall in your entryway may be what draws your guests’ eyes at first, but your photos will quickly become the stars of the show- as they should be. 

This is a fun way to add an extra touch to the already-personal elements of your home. 

Oak Candleholders

Are you a candle lover but tired of the same old wax warmers or little glass jars that candles come in? Add some oak wood!

Whether you opt to cut a small piece of wood (from an oak branch that is about the width of a standard drinking glass) and hollow it out far down enough to fit your favorite candle, or you simply want to sit a tea-light or candle atop a piece of oak, you will soon forget about your boredom with the old candle holders you’ve been using.

These are all great ways to add some decor to your home all while maintaining a common look and theme. Oakwood is beautiful and can be used in so many ways, including some that we haven’t yet mentioned. 

That being said, let’s continue- shall we?

Make Hanging Wall (Or Mantel Piece) Decor With Fallen Oak

If little things sitting around your house stress you out, you can opt for decor that is a little more eye-level. 

Beyond picture frames hanging on walls, you could also hang an interesting-looking piece of oak wood as a centerpiece above the focal point of a room. (Extra points if the wood looks at all like driftwood or is curved uniquely.) 

Not only would this draw the eye of anyone you invite over, but it can also be a special way to commemorate a tree that has fallen but was once important to you for any reason. 

Maybe your kids climbed the tree every day after school, or it was planted after a wedding, or you just really loved reading in the shade of its branches on hot summer days. 

No matter what the backstory may be, you can keep a piece of any special tree with you even after it has fallen.

Turn Fallen Oak Wood Into Woodchips Or Mulch

Take a note from the University of Florida and go ahead and turn some of your leftover oak tree pieces into mulch!

Spreading this organic mulch around your other plants- from trees to flowers to the garden vegetables you’re growing- will help to support them. While your oak tree may be gone, it is far from finished with its work in your landscaping. Now, it just helps you out in a different way.

Instead of paying all that money to buy bags of mulch each year, you could rent a wood chipper and call it a day! 

If you see yourself doing this task more often in the future, you may want to invest in something like this Sun Joe Electric Silent Wood Chipper.

Any machinery and equipment should be mindfully operated and carefully used, of course.

Fallen Oak Can Make Great Outdoor Chairs And Tables

If you are not keen to use fallen oak wood to build chairs that go indoors, we get it! That doesn’t mean, however, that you cannot still repurpose this wood into furniture that gets used in the great outdoors. 

Just think of hosting a backyard party and getting to tell your friends or relatives that the chair they are sitting in, or the piece of wood acting as a side table, or the little outdoor coffee table, was made from that tree that blew over in the storm a while back. 

Not only is this environmentally conscious and a great way to repurpose a free and available resource, but it is also cool!

Use Oak Pieces As Decorations

Whether this looks like planning for a rustic-themed event or simply adding some character into the design of your home, pieces of wood in any shape or size are great additions to areas where you have already decorated. 

Fallen Oak Pieces At Events 

For example, if you are planning an anniversary dinner, you might gather some pinecones, needles, and other leaves to put in clear vases while sitting candles on top of little wooden coasters. These can be cut directly from branches and you can vary the size so that the look is cohesive without looking like you bought matching wood cylinders from your local craft store. 

Add an old book or some dried flowers and boom, you’ve got yourself a creative and fun centerpiece that has real thought put into it. 

Another great way to use elements that tie in an oak tree is to decorate your centerpieces with acorns and use them as additional decorations!

Fallen Oak Pieces At Home

Trying to figure out what you can do to freshen up your entry table or the alcove near your dining area? 

You can take a similar idea from the event options, and shift it into something fitting for a home decor scenario. Maybe a little less ‘centerpiece-focused’ and a little more ‘spread out throughout your home’, for example.

Do you have a bowl where your keys go once you walk in the door? Sit that on a thin but wide cylinder of wood, and place a taller but thinner (from further down the branch) piece of oak wood next to that centerpiece. 

If you want to get fancy, carve a little circular section from the top of that taller wood piece and sit a tealight into it. You can use an electric one, in the name of fire safety!

Feeling extra bold? Maybe you take a piece of the trunk or one of the largest branches (if the tree was quite mature) and turn it into a bedside table, an end table by a couch, or a statement piece by the front door where you throw your mail from time-to-time. 

The possibilities for incorporating wood as decor in your home are endless, and we know that you will do something super cool!

Use Fallen Oak For Creative Landscaping

Keeping with the theme from a few ideas up about using some of the oak wood to create mulch, you could also always use parts of your tree as a landscaping element that is a bit more obvious. 

Line a flower bed with evenly-sized pieces of wood (cut from a medium-sized branch, for example.) Who needs rocks, anyway? These wood pieces can help prevent erosion of the soil and mulch in your flower bed while also creating a unique, fun, visual effect.

To protect yourself while moving around these pieces in your yard, you may want to put on something like these Ironclad General Utility Work Gloves.

Let Critters Live In Fallen Trees

Fallen trees can be the perfect habitat for many little creatures, from chipmunks and squirrels to raccoons and red foxes. If you have a large property and feel comfortable leaving your tree to the land you’ll create less work for yourself while providing a potential new habitat to some woodland critters. It’s a win-win if your area is appropriate for this.

Especially if you are someone that would love to be creative but just does not have the time, or if you have no interest in using the wood for anything personal. These ideas are all great, but they aren’t for everyone. 

Leaving a tree to go back to the earth is the most natural way to do it and, as long as disease or infestation is not a factor, this can be so deeply beneficial for the area around where your tree once stood.

Naturally, of course, this is just one of the amazing ways how oak trees help the environment. You can read more in our piece: 7 Amazing Ways Oak Trees Help The Environment.

That’s A Wrap!

Now that we have shared some amazing ways that you can make use of your fallen oak tree, it’s time for you to put them to the test!

So, get your saw, your ax, your hammer and nails, your wood stain, and anything else that you could need to create all of the best pieces for inside your house and out.

Remember, these are only some of the amazing uses for fallen oak trees. Get creative, and let us know if you come up with any more. This is all a new part of your tree journey, and we just hope that these ideas spark something in you- whether it be creative, functional, or both. 

The fact that a tree falls is never ideal, but the loss of your tree does not have to mean the loss of all that it has to offer. 

Like nature itself, trees can provide some pretty unexpected gifts if you take the time and effort to search for them. Plus, all that free wood should get some use out of it- do you know how much all that firewood, or a new chair, or some end tables, would cost at the store?!

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to learn more about oak trees, check out our fun article: 32 Incredible Facts About White Oak Trees.

References:

Bugalho, M. N., Caldeira, M. C., Pereira, J. S., Aronson, J., & Pausas, J. G. (2011). Mediterranean cork oak savannas require human use to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 9(5), 278-286. 

Julyus, P. (2019, November). inland waterways transportation interior decor laminated wood layout LEAN. In Nautical and Maritime Culture, from the Past to the Future: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Nautical and Maritime Culture (Vol. 3, p. 219). IOS Press.

Robinson, S. C., Tudor, D., MacDonald, G., Mansourian, Y., & Cooper, P. A. (2013). Repurposing mountain pine beetle blue wood for art through additional fungal colonization. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 85, 372-374.