They are found on the east coast from southeastern Virginia to Florida and west to southern and central Texas. The live oak tree grows predominantly in sandy soils of low coastal areas but it also grows in dry sandy or moist rich woods. It has a resistance to salty soil and salt spray from the ocean and does well on barrier islands.

Live oak is monoecious. This means that they have separate male and female reproductive units on the same plant. They produce flowers every spring from March through May and the acorns mature in September and fall off by December. Live oak acorns are long, dark brown to black and tapered. They are sweet and very popular with birds, squirrels and other animals. If the acorns fall on moist, warm ground, they will germinate soon after falling.

Live oaks do not get very tall, rarely above 50 feet but the crown or canopy of the tree can have a span of 150 feet. It is a very popular shade tree because of this. The wood of the live oak is very hard and strong and was used years ago for shipbuilding among other various wood making ventures. The wood is not used as widely today as it used to be because it is predominantly a shade and ornamental tree.

Live oaks have a tendency to grow in large, dense groups with interconnected roots systems, this is why you see them sprawling so closely to each other down many small town main streets across the south.
If you are ever in the south near historic Charleston, South Carolina, you will be surrounded by history. Once you have soaked up the architectural beauty and rich history of the city, head to nearby John’s Island to see the oldest living thing east of the Rockies. Known as the Angel Oak, the live oak tree that has its own park is estimated to be 1,500 years old, pre-dating Columbus by 1,000 years!

Tucked into a wooded area the Angel Oak tree will simply astound you. Its quiet majesty shades the tiny park it dominates; it will be quite a while before you forget the 160-foot span of Angel Oak’s massive branches. Her circumference is a whopping 25 feet, and she covers 17,000 square feet of ground.
For more facts about the history of Live oaks and general informative information stayed tuned in. For now, I will say see you later, I have a picnic lunch date under a grand, old, shady friend; a live oak tree.

First is fertilizing. In natural or undisturbed conditions, a mature oak tree does not need to be fertilized; however, in a case where planting, up rooting, or nearby ground disturbance has occurred, it is important to administer some fertilizer to the base of the tree. This will help the oak get more comfortable with its new surroundings quicker.

Fertilizer is also necessary for unhealthy trees that may require extra nutrients to survive. Fertilizing an oak will balance the phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen nutrients in which are needed to grow greener richer foliage. Ensuring your tree with enough nutrients to help with the foliage growth will increase the capacity to capture sunlight and produce food and energy.

Soil cover is the second helper to an oak trees survival. In order to avoid erosion or root damage, it is important to maintain a few inches of soil cover over the roots of the tree. This soil cover should extend about six foot from the tree trunk and should not cover the trunk. You do not want the roots to become girdled and wrap around the trunk.

Irrigation is our third helper. Generally, mature oak trees do not require much irrigation, and supplemental watering can create a ripe environment for disease causing pathogens. However, if the tree has been uprooted or transplanted, or even just a little guy, some extra precautions might be good and will help your live oaks thrive.

Pruning is our fourth helping task. While mature oaks do not require any pruning all trees require the occasional dead branch or twigs cleaned off. It is very important to prune younger less mature oaks so that their branches can grow to be strong and the canopies/ foliage can spread to form a grander, wider range of shade. Pruning of the oak tree should really only be done during the dryer seasonal months of the year such as June and July. In addition, do not over prune.

Last but certainly not least is love. Loving your oak tree is the biggest and best help care tip I can give. Oak trees like most need TLC, tender loving care. They will thrive best when cared for properly.

In conclusion, when thinking of adding or simply trying to revitalize an oak, please consider these five simple helpful tips. Enjoy your oaks, and with over 300 varieties there’s bound to be one out there just for you. Me personally, I love the Southern Live Oak tree, and I know my Live Oak tree loves me back.

I am often in awe that such huge magnificent trees are able to stand firmly in such sandy loose Florida soil. They have these huge trunks and gnarly outstretched limbs that look as though they could almost reach out and grab you. Each Live Oak tree is usually draped with lovely Spanish moss that sways gently in the breeze, giving these trees a touch of eeriness.

The oldest Live Oak tree in Florida is thought to be in Ormond Beach, and is located in Bulow Creek State Park. This oak is called the “Fairchild Oak” and is thought to be over 400 years old. The oak has been a silent witness to human activities along Bulow Creek. According to the park this includes the destruction of the nearby Bulow Plantation during the second Seminole War in 1836.

The Live Oak is also one of the best trees to survive hurricane winds. These oaks have been called the most wind-tolerant shade tree in all of Florida. Within three months after Hurricane Charley made landfall in Florida, the Live Oak trees near the coast started re-growing leaves. The Live Oak is also the top shade tree to survive Hurricane Camille, one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the United States.
Did you know there is even a “Live Oak Society” for these amazing trees? The Live Oak Society was founded in 1934 by Dr. Edwin Lewis Stephens, the first president of Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the University of Louisiana in Lafayette). The Society promotes the culture, distribution, preservation and appreciation of the live oak tree, scientifically known as Quercus virginiana.

According to the Live Oak Society the “Seven Sisters Oak”, formerly known as “Doby’s Seven Sisters” is thought to be the oldest Live Oak tree alive. The owner who first named the tree was Carole Hendry Doby, who was one of seven sisters. The “Seven Sisters Oak” is located in the Lewisburg area of Mandeville, Louisiana on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Estimated by foresters to be 1200 years old, this tree has a girth of over 38 feet. This oak is also the National Champion on the National Register of Big Trees.

I took the time, I planted and weeded, and made my garden look good, but it just was not enough. My garden still needed that wow factor. I needed the last piece of the puzzle to make it complete. Then as if some huge bell had dinged,” I got it, I need a tree.” However, not just any tree, a glorious tree! A tree that will not just look great all year round, but a tree that will stand the tests of time.

I searched high and low for the tree in my dreams, the tree that would make my garden complete. The tree I found that was perfect was a beautiful cathedral, southern live oak tree. The southern live oak tree speaks volumes when in a garden or lavish landscape. It says “Hello, Look at me, I will make your garden complete.” These live oaks give off a sense of elegance, strength, and longevity wherever they can be seen, which makes it perfect for me. I usually see these towering wonders along the back roads between my new home and our little town covering the roads with there friendly canopies.

Once I had decided that the southern live oak was for me there was no stopping me. I looked and looked for a nursery with live oak trees for sale perfectly suited for me. I happened upon Southern Pride tree Farm. The name of it sells itself. There they had the most gorgeous 12ft cathedral live oak trees I had ever seen. Their potential for growth and beauty oozed out of them. I chose my tree and soon after had her planted deep with in the earth settled in the center of my garden.

This simple yet majestic live oak tree transformed my garden in one fell swoop. Now I can look out my front windows and know that to me, my garden is as perfect as it can be.

Often seen lining the historic streets of small towns, the reclining branches create a majestic canopy of scattered sparkling light on a summer day. Live oak trees typically grow somewhat rapidly while young and often live to be centuries old. The live oak mainly grows in the lower coastal plains from southeastern Virginia but more commonly in southern Georgia to Florida as well as Texas.

More commonly recognized in the Gulf Coast area, live oaks often support many types of iconic plant life. The most recognizable includes Spanish moss which hangs in sweeping romantic garlands, giving these trees a striking magnificent appearance. Spanish moss is often referred to as an “air plant” since it seems to have no root system.

An icon in American history and literature, live oaks thrive in the south, and are the preferred landscaping tree for many homes and businesses. The live oak’s broad crown, with its long arching limbs that spread horizontally rather than vertically give this tree a distinctive architectural appeal many admire. The live oak’s deep root system and strong stature help it to withstand the high winds that topple many other trees during hurricane season.

When most people think of the South, they immediately think of these wonderful massive live oaks festooned with Spanish moss. During much of the south’s history, live oak trees were considered to be landmarks where people gathered to socialize or conduct business from day to day. In the opening scene of the famous film “Gone with the Wind,” Scarlett O’Hara is seen flirting with bachelors under live oaks at a barbecue party.

Live Oaks have made the most perfect additions to quality homes, residential communities, golf courses, industrial and commercial parks, city beautification projects and much more. Live oak trees have even been used to commemorate special events and occasions. An amazingly durable American native the Live Oak tree can measure its lifetime in centuries if properly located and cared for in the landscape.

The Live Oak is also one of the broadest spreading of the Oaks, providing large areas of deep, inviting summertime shade. Reaching 40 to 60 feet in height with a 60 to 100 foot spread and usually possessing many sinuously curved trunks and branches. A Live Oak tree is an impressive sight for any large-scale landscape. If you are looking for a majestic landscaping tree, you will find no other with the history and strength of a live oak tree.

While there are certainly many different types of trees you could choose from when you are shopping for a landscaping tree, there are none that compare to the strength, majesty, and history of a live oak. The best place to start looking for your perfect mature live oak is on the internet. Most growers have detailed websites with photographs that show the health of the trees in their nursery.

In addition to the wealth of information on live oak trees online, you can find wholesale nursery companies. These companies can offer you prices that could save you hundreds of dollars when you buy directly from them. Most of these companies will be happy to help you through the entire process of your purchase from buying, to transporting, and even assist you in finding landscapers to plant your tree, then of course instructions on care for your tree.

You may not realize that live oaks come in many shapes and sizes which have been grown to suit specific individual tastes in landscaping design. The “Cathedral Live Oak” is also a cultivar live oak tree that grows tall, yet dense and round. Because it’s a cultivar, consistency is the key. The “High-rise Live Oak” is a cultivar live oak tree that grows tall and majestic, sturdy and beautiful while requiring less width in the landscape than a standard live oak. Finally, the traditional standard field-grown seedling live oak tree has its own shape and character, each one a magnificent, strong resilient live oak tree.

Beautiful mature trees can change the look and atmosphere of your home or business property. With such majestic trees you will find it is easier to give your home or business an elegant feel. It is a simple fact that trees are also much easier to deal with than most flowers or other types of plants.

There is almost literally no maintenance for most trees and what maintenance you do have is limited and quickly taken care of. The live oak tree lives for many hundreds of years, is green year-round in the southern U.S., and is considered by many to be a sturdy yet romantic tree. This is simply the perfect landscaping tree for any home or business including yours!

Victoria Gates is a proud supporter of small American businesses such as the North Florida based Live Oak tree wholesaler Southern Pride Tree Farm. You can find out more about their operations and location by visiting http://www.sptreefarm.com on the web.

President Calvin Coolidge – December 1928

President Calvin Coolidge planted the first commemorative oak during the Christmas holidays shortly after “The Cloister” opened its doors. President and Mrs. Coolidge were visiting Sea Island Company founder Howard Coffin at his home on Sapelo Island.

President Dwight Eisenhower – May 1946

This oak was planted after President Eisenhower was elected, in honor of the visit he and Mrs. Eisenhower made to Sea Island in 1946.

Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard – April 1952

Queen Juliana and her husband Prince Bernhard spent Easter weekend on Sea Island and added an oak to the grounds. During their visit, the royal couple was attending as honored guests at an oyster roast hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred W. Jones, Sr., at Altama Plantation.

President Gerald Ford – December 9, 1979

After his term of office, President Ford planted a commemorative oak while visiting as a guest of honor at a meeting and golf tournament at Sea Island.

President Jimmy Carter – July 28, 1981

President Carter assembled his first cabinet at The Cloister shortly after being elected in 1976. Accompanied by Mrs. Carter, he returned to plant an oak in July 1981.

Eugene O’Neill – May 12, 1988

A live oak was planted by Connecticut College, New London, Conn., to commemorate the playwright’s 100th birthday. O’Neill, who spent his youth in New London, lived on Sea Island from 1931 to 1936 in the cottage he and his wife, Carlotta Monterey, built and named Casa Genotta. O’Neill wrote his only comedy, “Ah, Wilderness!” on Sea Island; with it, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1936.

President George H.W. Bush – September 29, 1991

President Bush planted a commemorative oak while he and Mrs. Bush were vacationing in 1991 at “The Cloister”, site of their 1945 honeymoon. They also visited in January 1995, to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. During that visit, President Bush played the opening round at Ocean Forest Golf Club. The former president returned in August 2001 to open the 38th Walker Cup Match at Ocean Forest.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher – April 1994

The former British prime minister has been called the most enthusiastic planter at Sea Island. Most honorees sprinkle a ceremonial shovel full of dirt; Mrs. Thatcher went around the tree shoveling the dirt, despite the fact she wore a pink suit. Her security guard was heard to say that Mrs. Thatcher would have packed down the dirt had she been wearing her gardening shoes.

President George W. Bush – June 7, 2004

President Bush hosted the G8 Summit, the most significant annual gathering of the eight leaders of the free world, on Sea Island from June 8-10, 2004. In the tradition of his father, he planted a commemorative oak close to his father’s.

Prime Minister Tony Blair – June 11, 2004

The British Prime Minister and his wife planted a commemorative oak during their visit for the G8 Summit.

The Sea Island Summit First Ladies – November 16, 2004

The Sea Island Gardening Group planted an oak to commemorate the visit to Sea Island by five of the First Ladies whose husbands participated in the G8 Summit. Those Ladies included Laura Bush of the United States, Cherie Blair of the United Kingdom, Bernadette Chirac of France, Sheila Martin of Canada, and Ludmilla Putin of the Russian Federation.

Additional live oaks on the grounds of The Cloister honor Georgia founder James Oglethorpe, the 50th anniversary of The Cloister, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred W. Jones, Sr., and the Sea Island Employees in celebration of the 2000 Millennium. It is exciting to see the many ways live oak trees are used to mark momentous occasions, and this is just one example. These famous live oaks will be alive many generations from the day they were planted since some trees live hundreds of years or more.

In May of 2006, Vancouver City Canada’s City Councilors challenged local families, community groups, and individual neighborhood organizations to create and establish food-producing gardens all over Vancouver. The challenge for 2010 new gardens by January 1, 2010 was issued by then-Councilor Peter Ladner. As of December 31, 2009 they had exceeded their goal, a total of 2,039 new gardens had been developed with more planned for the future.

Gardens were encouraged in otherwise unused spaces such as on rooftops, off balconies, or in unused space on the ground. Use of natural mulch such as pine straw was also encouraged. The city also encouraged neighbors do participate in “yard sharing”. Simply put, when sharing yard space neighbors would help each other with the gardens that share borders of personal property.

According to the City of Vancouver website, benefits include: “Community gardens and other forms of urban agriculture are recognized as important neighborhood gathering places that promote sustainability, neighborhood livability, urban greening, community building, inter-generational activity, social interaction, crime reduction, and exercise and food production. The 2010 initiative will allow Vancouver to use urban agriculture as a powerful tool to achieve multiple social, environmental and economic benefits.”

The program has been a proud success for the community, just in time to welcome visitors for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. It is the hope of many that simple and low-cost programs such as this are promoted in more cities around the globe. This natural local food source could be a huge benefit to millions of hungry people around the world.

As many natural disasters’ have plagued the southern US, these beautiful trees withstand many of their warpaths. Like in 2004, Florida, the southern most state, had one of the worst hurricane seasons yet. Three major hurricanes hit the state almost back to back to back.

Author and landscape designer Pamela Crawford and researcher Barbara Hadsell researched and studied the damage state wide to see which tree/ s held up the best through the torturous weather conditions. The answer the came to was the Southern Live Oak tree. So many trees were either damaged or up rooted completely during the storms throughout the state that there was much information to be collected. Although thousands, if not more trees were damaged in the wake of the storms the live oak had stood strongest. Whether it be from there deeply rooted root systems, their well-balanced cathedral like branches and foliage or some other scientific fact, they stood this test of time, which Mother Nature had thrust upon them.

Live Oaks have always been known throughout history as a symbol of strength and longevity and during those storms, they said it louder. One might say these small town main streets scattered across the southern United States might have placed them along their streets and roadways as if to protect the small town charm held beneath. Maybe put there not only for their looks, their homely appeal, and inviting nature but as small a reminder that the south is strong. Since finding out all this information, I have started to wonder if these simple radiant trees are still standing tall today to almost mock at Mother Nature and tell her that they, the Southern Live Oak trees are way to strong for the wrath of even her.

I make my living developing layouts for other people’s yards and making them a reality, I am a landscaper. Now keep this a secret just between you and I, but my opinion on landscaping is that no one really needs to hire a landscaper if they could do the work themselves. The exception to this rule is of course large or multiple jobs. Of course I don’t share this secret with my clients, I need to earn a living somehow but if you have good landscaping ideas, you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor that much more if you do it yourself. You’ll have a sense of pride that you’ve done the design and work yourself, and exactly to the design you wanted.

You can start by giving your home a more welcoming look by adding flowers to a front-yard garden. You can use a variety of flowerbeds or add elegance by lining the walkway to your home. Vibrant colorful flowers nestled in natural pine mulch are eye-candy for you and your visitors. They will almost certainly enhance your visitor’s first impression of you, and your home.

Personally I believe there are four main reasons why people don’t do their own landscaping work. It’s either a lack of interest, lack of know-how, lack of time, or no landscaping ideas. Now if you don’t have the time to do the work there isn’t much you can do about that, but you can learn how to do the landscaping tasks, and there are great landscaping ideas everywhere.

Ideas and designs can come in an array of places. Magazines offer a lot of interesting techniques for landscaping and gardening on all types of budgets. Look at gardening, home improvement or architectural magazines; they are great for showing vibrant pictures with landscaping ideas in them. Also do not be afraid to search websites for landscape and gardening ideas. I believe the very best place to look for an idea is right in your own community. What are other people doing around you with their yards?
You can use trees and bushes to line your home’s porch or front garden for a great architectural effect. You should always maintain them properly to keep them neat. Consider using fruit trees and dogwoods for their beauty and relaxing fragrances. Ornamental trees like live oaks also offer elegance and a sense of arrival to guests of your home.

Depending on the size of your porch you can add various pieces of furniture such as benches and rockers to enhance the feel of warmth and comfort. You can also increase its appeal with plants of various colors and sizes, and even train decorative climbers to accentuate railings and arches. Don’t forget to pay attention to your pathways, and ensure they are in good state of repair and always clean. This will make your sidewalk more appealing and safer too. Be creative with materials you could use, such as ornamental boulders or colored concrete as a main feature.

Adding a pond or small fountain to your front yard can enhance the sense of beauty, calmness, and serenity. Just make certain your plans are not overly ambitious if you do this yourself as the result could be frustrating. You can also brick or stones to add even more interest to the water feature. Surround your water feature with boulders and/or plants to enhance it even more.

Keep it simple, this is probably the best piece of advice to follow when it comes to landscaping your front yard. Avoid messy and over-complicated settings: if you keep it neat and trim you will enjoy walking up to your front door, regardless of your chosen decorative scheme. To tell you the truth, this is where I get a lot of my landscaping ideas. When I drive by a yard I think looks wonderful I take a moment to stop and think, what is it about that garden or patio that makes it stand out. How could I integrate the greatness of that design into my work?

Now, I am not suggesting you copy your neighbor’s yard, but you could take ideas from everywhere. You can also get great ideas from museums, public gardens, or people down the street, and once you borrow those ideas, make them your own! You will find yourself with a beautiful design and layout after some inspiration. Enjoy the process of developing a wonderful unique layout, and take the time to make it look beautiful.