Bur Oak Tree Care Guide

A partnership between San Juan Matching Tree Species with San Juan County County Cooperative Extension the Planting Site Cooperative Extension Service and San Juan College Tree selection and placement are two of the Bonnie Hopkins most important decisions a homeowner Agriculture Extension Agent makes when landscaping a new home or 213-A South Oliver Drive replacing a tree. Many trees have the Aztec NM 87410 potential to outlive those who plant them, sanjuanextension.nmsu.edu so the impact of this decision can last a [email protected] lifetime. Matching the tree to the site 505-334-9496 benefits both the tree and the homeowner. Marisa Y. Thompson, PhD Selection Factors Extension Horticulture Specialist Tree Function: What is the purpose of the Department of Extension Plant Sciences Bur Oak Tree Care tree? Will it be valued for shade, or Los Lunas Agricultural Science Center landscape beautification? New Mexico State University Guide https://nmsudesertblooms.blogspot.com Scientific Name: Quercus macrocarpa Space Constraints: Is there adequate space Plant Description: Bur Oak, also called Mossycup oak is a large, round shaped, deciduous tree that for the tree to mature? Plant trees 15-20 ft Adam Harrelson turns yellow-brown in the fall. Despite being a non- away from overhead power lines and San Juan County Master Gardener native variety, they are tolerant to a variety of soil buildings. Avoiding planting too close to and water conditions. paved areas (3-4 ft minimum). More Resources: Sunlight Requirement: Full Sun NMSU Urban Horticulture Program Water requirement : Moderate Water Use Site Conditions: Will the tree variety thrive https://desertblooms.nmsu.edu/ Drought Tolerance: high tolerance to heat as well in the available conditions? Growth Habit: Slow to moderate Growing; 12” growth per year. Mature growth 70-80ft tall, Environmental Conditions: Will the tree “Tree Pruning Techniques” generally grows wider than tall. thrive in the available conditions in regards NMSU Extension Guide H-156 Landscape Value: well suited for residential https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/H156.pdf to soil, water, and sunlight? Typical Years to reach maturity: 35 years Typical Life Expectancy: 100+ years Variety Selection: Is the specific variety “Southwest Yard & Garden” Ideal Planting Situation: Grows well in clay and recommended for your area? Weekly gardening column archives alkaline soil conditions. Management Needs: Does the tree variety for the past 23 years! Maintenance Level: Low require significant management to thrive? https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/archives/index.html Wind Resistance: High Are there major pest or disease concerns? Fall Color: Poor BE BOLD. Shape the Future. New Mexico State University Caring for Young Oak Trees Caring for Mature Oak Trees in New Mexico in New Mexico Planting: To prevent tree death from planting too Mature Tree Watering (>3 years after deep, the hole should be dug no deeper than the planting): Once trees are established, water root ball when measured from the bottom of the to a depth of 2-3 feet every time you water. root ball to the trunk flare (point where topmost Apply water at the canopy dripline and root emerges from the trunk). The width of the beyond, avoid watering close to the trunk. hole should be a least 2-3 times the diameter of Frequency: Water every 2-4 weeks in spring; the root ball to encourage for lateral root spread. Mulch: A fibrous, woody mulch is every 1-3 weeks in summer; every 2-4 Remove container and carefully straighten any recommended to help maintain soil moisture, weeks in fall; 6-8 weeks in winter, when circling roots so they grow out laterally from the reduce weedy species, among other benefits. possible base. Backfill hole with existing soil. No Spread mulch on top of soil around rooting fertilizers, rooting hormones, or other soil Pruning: Oaks need little pruning when the area and beyond at 2”-4” depth, but not amendments are recommended. Water site is carefully selected for mature size. touching the trunk. Check one week later to sufficiently to allow soil to settle and remove Prune intentionally to provide air circulation, be sure root ball has not settled too much and large air pockets. Trunk flare must be visible maintain a desirable shape, reduce the that the trunk flare is still visible. above the ground after soil has settled incidence of rubbing branches, and to remove Monitoring: Monitor landscape plants for dead or damaged branches. Pruning is best New Tree Watering: Excess moisture is bad for pests, diseases, or other ailments on a regular done in late winter to early spring for oak oak tree roots because it can cause root rot and basis. Protect the trunk especially where trees. Avoid pruning more than 30% of the can lead to secondary problems with pests or maintenance activities, such as mowing, may canopy in a single year. For more pruning diseases. However, rooting area of newly planted cause damage. Always read the label of any information, review the helpful resource trees must remain moist, not soggy. Frequency of pesticide or chemical treatment used. links on the back of this brochure. irrigations depends largely on soil type. Check soil moisture level before watering to be sure it is Typical Pests: No serious pest concerns. Minor Disease Potential: Reduce disease necessary. Water deeply enough to reach roots at concerns: oak webworm; oak skeletonizer; susceptibility by watering wisely and leafminer. the bottom of the planting hole. allowing soils to dry between irrigations, Disease Potential: Bur oak blight; Oak wilt. especially in poorly drained soils. Powdery Care: Newly planted trees in areas with high sun exposure should have the trunk protected during mildew, leaf blister, and canker diseases are the winter using white paint (mix equal parts potential problems, but not common on white latex paint and water) or using a loose- healthy trees. fitting white wrapper - only when tree is dormant.

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