How to Plant and Care for Big Trees - Live Oaks

Your Southern Pride Tree Farm Live Oak trees will weigh approximately 1,000 lbs per caliper inch of tree (so a 9" caliper tree is 9,000lbs, 11" caliper – 11,000lbs etc.),. Oak trees are very heavy however a great portion of the weight of your tree is because of the 80" diameter x 5 ½' deep root system. It is vital that proper equipment be used to lift and set your trees to avoid unnecessary human harm and equipment damage; and that care is taken to protect the trunk from injury.

Click a link below to view more information:
Planting a Large Tree | Watering a Newly Planted Large Tree | Finish Planting a Large Tree |
Watering Requirements for Large Tree Establishment | Large Tree Planting Notes

Planting a Large Tree in Your Landscape:

During transport the tree root-balls are protected with a black liner that should be removed before planting: The wire basket can stay on as it will not inhibit the tree's growth in any way.

You will want to prepare your landscape in advance by checking your landscape area for underground utilities, irrigation and such before digging.

Planting the Large Tree:

• Prepare your planting hole twice as wide as the rootball and just slightly less than the depth of the rootball.
• Dig the planting hole shallower in areas with wet conditions and backfill up to the edge of the rootball.
• In no case should the first root emerging from the trunk be below soil level.
• Place the tree in the center of the prepared with the top most root in the rootball remaining 2 inches above ground level.

Once the tree is positioned and set straight, backfill with native soil 1/3, water in, use shovel to break up potential bubbles, back fill, water in, break up any possible bubbles, and repeat.

Once planted, the straps, which should be used to lift the tree from the truck, (see example pictures of lifting a tree) can be either removed at ground level or buried.

DO NOT COVER THE ROOTBALL WITH DIRT, mulch as shown below.

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Watering a Newly Planted Large Tree in Your Landscape:

Once planted; a very good way to water is to build a berm, or sort of moat (see illustration to the left) around the tree trunk at the diameter of the root ball.

Immediately after planting, water the tree in by filling the bermed basin with water; this will settle the existing soil around the root ball.

For the first number of weeks after planting the trees will need approximately 3 gallons of water per caliper inch (i.e. estimated 11" caliper tree x 3 gal. = 33 gallons) of water per day.

The goal is to wean the tree slowly off of supplemental irrigation, and get the root system established enough for the tree to thrive on natural rainfall.

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Finish Planting a Large Tree in Your Landscape:

• Apply a 3” inch layer of mulch (Live Oaks love pine straw) to an area 2 feet in diameter per trunk caliper inch.
• Never pile mulch directly against the tree trunk.

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Watering Requirements for Large Tree Establishment:

• Use low volume drip irrigation for optimum growth & survival.
• If an automatic system is not used, a strict irrigation schedule is necessary for survival.
• Irrigation for Vigorous Growth on 4" + caliper tree
• Daily for 6 weeks; every other day for 5 months; weekly until established.
• Irrigation for Survival on 4" + caliper tree
• Twice weekly for 4-5 months.
• At each irrigation, apply 3 gallons per inch trunk caliper to the rootball. (i.e. estimated 11" caliper tree x 3 gal. = 33 gallons) Apply in a manner so all water soaks into the rootball.

Establishment takes 3 to 4 months. In drought conditions for newly established trees, you might add water 1x a week to assist the tree. Again your goal once the tree is established is for the tree to find its own sources.

Southern Pride Tree Farm, Inc. can not be responsible for trees as soon as they leave our premises so please make sure you are careful not to injure the trunk of the tree when lifting and setting the tree.

Congratulations! You have purchased the healthiest trees possible Direct from the Grower: With proper watering and fertilization you will enjoy your Southern Pride Live Oaks for many years to come.

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Large Tree Planting Notes:

• The best soil amendment for successful planting is water. Research has shown no benefit to using other soil amendments.
• Place no soil over the rootball at planting. Deep planting kills trees.

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Reference:

Some Bulleted points are courtesy of Roots Plus Growers

Southern Pride Tree Farm Features Very Big Live Oaks:

• Our Live Oaks are 8- to- 12- years- old top quality landscaping trees.
• HighRise©, Cathedral©  & Standard Field Grown Live-Oak Trees.
• The Live Oak is a semi-deciduous evergreen medium growing tree