Releasing bur oaks

[SD51555]

As I make my way across my property stem by stem, I’m saving every bur oak because there are not too many, and I’m losing 2-3 old ones each year. I might have 5-10 in a quarter acre. These are 6’-15’ tall.

I’ve been releasing these for ten years. They don’t seem to be growing much if at all. I don’t have a specific one I know hasn’t grown, but I also can’t say I’ve got any surging ahead after a perfect clean out and sky opening with the chainsaw.

Is it possible they were shaded out too long to ever do anything?


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[Telemark]

I wouldn't think they are permanently stunted. I've never heard of that being a problem, and it seems to go against the normal growth habit of trees.

If they are getting plenty of sun, I would guess the problem is water and/or nutrients. Water is easy enough, though it can be hard work. Nutrients is a different story.

If water is plentiful, then I'd focus in nutrients. Personally, I would throw out a bunch of triple 10 straight away to try to give them a boost. If I was watering, I would dissolve at least some of the fertilizer in the water to get it to the roots ASAP.

The next thing I would do would be to spread Azomite around the tree and try to get some mycorhizal fungi to the roots.

If you have any gut piles, varmints, roadkill, etc., bury them near the trees to add nutrients and biology to the soil under the canopy. If you can get cheap or free manure, I'd dump piles under the canopies to further boost the nutrients and biology in the soil.

 

[Turkey Creek]

I do not believe there has been any evidence to suggest fertilizing oaks is worth the time and money. Unless you are in a severe drought I don't think you are going to dump enough water on an oak to make a big impact. Sunlight is the name of the game. Burr Oaks are not fast growers in general.

 

[Teeder]

How much sun are they getting?
When we bought our hunting property, it had recently been selectively logged. I planted oaks in the openings, but soon realized what seems like enough sunlight for oaks probably isn't. They need a ton!

 

[SD51555]

How much sun are they getting?
When we bought our hunting property, it had recently been selectively logged. I planted oaks in the openings, but soon realized what seems like enough sunlight for oaks probably isn't. They need a ton!

Most are getting full sun except the low light periods. They're opened up to the south so they get everything in the middle 60-80% of the day or more.

 

[Teeder]

Honestly, that sounds like my scenario. My openings run north-south. Wide open during the middle of the day, but not enough total hours. The trees i planted in the openings are 1/4 the size of the same types i planted out in the field.