Many factors go into planting a live oak tree. First, the tree needs enough space when it is first planted. It should have at least 180 square feet, and it should be 40 to 50 feet away from other trees. Additionally, the live oak needs to be 15 to 20 feet away from structures like your home or driveway.
As the oak grows, the tap root is outgrown by an extensive lateral root system that spreads horizontally out from the trunk to and well beyond the drip line, sometimes as much as 90 feet. For a mature oak, this horizontal root system is the primary supporter of the tree for the rest of its life.
Unlike pine trees, oaks and elms have shallow roots which can potentially damage your foundation. They tend to grow pretty quickly – a trait that makes them extremely popular.
Tulip Poplars and Maple trees tend to snap, while Oaks and Hickory trees will uproot more easily, he said but it's rare. "That doesn't mean you have to get rid of those species by any means," he said. He suggests that homeowners simply get the trees inspected.
This will not only protect your foundation, it will protect your house if the tree falls in a storm. A large tree species like an elm or an oak should be planted at least 50 feet from a home, while a smaller one like a dogwood or a magnolia can be planted just 10 feet away.
Tree Spacing
Many factors go into planting a live oak tree. First, the tree needs enough space when it is first planted. It should have at least 180 square feet, and it should be 40 to 50 feet away from other trees. Additionally, the live oak needs to be 15 to 20 feet away from structures like your home or driveway.
Proximity to the house that poses a clear risk to the structure, such as branches touching the roof or roots encroaching on the foundation, also requires action. Regular inspection and consultation with tree care professionals can help determine the right course of action.
Cabling: The process of cabling strategically secures the weakened leaning tree to a stable structure, such as stakes or another tree, using cables. This can prevent the tree from leaning or falling further. Stakes: Sometimes used along with cabling, stakes in the ground can encourage a tree to grow straight.
Pear trees, willows, sycamores, eucalyptuses, silver maples, and American Oaks commonly drop limbs in windy conditions. These trees have weak bark that does not support the tree well, which leaves them exposed in windy conditions.
Subterranean termites are not picky and will eat many of the common types of wood found in homes, including pine and oak.
Oaks. According to one study on tree root foundation damage, Oak species account for 11 percent of all foundation problems cited by property owners. Live oaks, Shumard red oaks, chestnut oaks, and other species have shallow roots that leach large quantities of nutrients and water from the soil.
While there is not a specific tree that will singularly increase your property value, in general, larger and older trees are more appreciated. If you want a lot of value out of your tree, you will need to properly nurture and maintain it so it will live to a ripe old age.
Under optimal conditions, northern red oak is fast growing and a 10-year-old tree can be 15–20 feet tall. In many forests, it grows straight and tall, to 90 ft, exceptionally to 140 ft tall, with a trunk of up to 20–40 inches diameter.
If the roots are not completely removed, they can continue to grow and eventually lead to new tree growth. However, this process takes many years and is not guaranteed. Herbicide can also be used to kill the roots to prevent regrowth.
Having said this, it is not wise to plant a tree that has the capacity to grow to beyond 20 feet within 10 metres of a building. Tree roots need an equal blend of both oxygen and water in which to thrive and colonize.
Multi Purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer works well. Liquid fertilizers (such as Miracle Gro ) are mixed with water and applied the same as you would water the plant (see product for specific details). This should be done three or four times per year starting in late April and ending in mid July.
It is possible that squirrels, at least in part, are clipping oak branches to more easily reach acorns, but not all clipped branches contained acorns. Clipped branches containing acorns were noted and checked the following day; most of the acorns had either been removed or partially consumed.
We recommend planting trees at least 15-20 feet away from your house to prevent problems with roots or overhanging branches. There are of course exceptions to this, but here are some general rules of thumb to consider when planting trees near your home.
Types like American Holly and Dwarf Yaupon Holly are popular choices to plant near houses because they stay small and don't have roots that spread too much. People often use holly trees as hedges or to decorate around their home's foundation because they grow thick leaves.
In practice it is most unlikely that tree roots will damage a properly constructed house. Trees do not actively seek out house foundations. They influence the sub soil in which they grow due to the amount of water they demand and this can affect the way certain soil types behave.
Of all the types of oak, the water oaks, live oaks, chestnut oaks, and red oaks are the most likely to cause foundation issues and should be avoided as much as possible in close proximity to your home's foundation.
Sprawling tree roots and foundations don't mix. As tree roots grow, they branch out into the soil for moisture. If planted too close to your house, they can hit your foundation, and they're powerful enough to damage it. So you want foundation planting trees that don't have extensive, far-reaching roots.