When you start considering the growth of trees, what trees will you select? Someone is bound to mention the mighty Mexican Oak, and even if it’s altogether the wrong dimensions for your house, it would be good if you stopped and read about it first.
These are just five of the Mexican White Oak Tree’s top attributes:
1. Grows fast, 40 feet in Height, Lives 100 Years.
2.Not Quite Evergreen or Deciduous
3.Most Adaptable of Trees
4.’Pest Easy!’
5.Care Free Tree.
Now, let us break this down and give you a more comprehensive explanation.
1. Grows fast, 40 feet in Height, Lives 100 Years.
It grows to a height of approximately 40 feet in total, with a growth rate of around 4 feet per year! That’s one of the fastest-growing rates of trees in general, and the Mexican Oak is enormous compared to some of its counterparts. It’s quite a lofty, majestic looking tree.
Several Names
It’s a favorite of Landscape Planners for University grounds. Never heard of it? What about Netleaf White Oak? or Monterrey Oak!
Longevity
It’s not only fast to grow to a tall tree, but it also lives long – sometimes up to 200 years! Other Oaks reach maturity at 100 years.
Great Cooling Tree Gives Ample Shade
This tree will give you ample shade and is probably the best cooling tree we can think of right now.
2.Not Quite Evergreen or Deciduous
The oak tree’s leaves are approximately four to five inches long, and you could almost call it a shapeshifter when you know about the different shapes and forms that other specimens produce. Starting from tiny seedlings, the leaves grow to be incredibly serrated. Yet as they get bigger, the serrations are smoother, and over time, they are entirely soft.
Leaves are Synchronised
It doesn’t lose its leaves gradually, but, at the end of winter or early spring, it undergoes general defoliation, and then, just as suddenly, it regrows a new batch of leaves to cover its branches once again.
In some parts, the longest they are leafless for is eight weeks, whereas in one place – Austin – the new leaves are already growing before the old leaves have finished falling!
3. Most Adaptable of Trees
It comes as quite a surprise just how adaptable this tree is.
A Happy Flexible Growth
This tree can happily live in desert areas, riverbanks, heavy rainfall areas, and almost drought conditions!
It prefers neutral to alkaline soils ph, but apart from that, it is very flexible.
4.’Pest Easy!’
It is popular among certain pests and diseases that it seems to attract. There’s Oak-wilt, a fungal infection that’s highly contagious and eventually fatal to the plant.
Almost Disease Free
Although comprehensive tests have yet to be taken on these oaks, it is currently considered that the Monterrey Oak is the least susceptible to these oak trees for the disease. Although several cases have been reported of disease, they are very few and much less than their other tall oak tree counterparts.
5.Care Free Tree
The last of the five brilliant facts about this Mexican White Oak is that it almost wholly cares free.
They Almost Raise Themselves
Because the Mexican White Oak proliferates rapidly, you’ll want to prune back the lower branches so you can raise the canopy. Beyond that, they won’t need pruning or thinning or other little caring jobs.
At this juncture, let me give you some supporting information about these lovely trees:
If they’re in the proper soil, don’t worry as they almost raise themselves!
Needs Well Drained, Rocky Soil Only
This tree performs its best in well-drained, rocky soil, so if you have clay soil, you need to choose another tree. It loves to be in full sun, although it can tolerate partial shade.
Not a Widely Known Tree
As you can see, this article’s information makes this a wonderful tree to have in the garden. How strange it is that these white oaks are not widely known for residential purposes. You occasionally see the odd advert looking for such an oak, but you don’t see masses of them planted, and you can’t help wondering why.
The Amazing Rooting System
One of the reasons might be the rooting system it has. Because the Oak is such a big tree and is so strong and flexible enough to withstand bad weather, it has an excellent root system which helps it overcome almost any situation.
A Taproot and Vast Network of Lateral Roots
You might ask how far the roots spread out but rather ask how deep the taproot is. Yes, it has a taproot! During the Oak’s first few years of growth, most of its strength is put into its taproot development.
Its total concentration is based on sinking that vertical taproot to start laying down the root system. The vertical taproot grows far down. It arrives at a certain point (all trees grow different root systems according to the prevailing conditions where they are planted) and then spread laterally around the tree.
Lateral Roots Spread About 90 Feet Beyond the Edge of the Tree
These lateral roots will develop up the taproot and start spreading enormously far once they arrive at about 18 inches from the ground surface. Those lateral roots will eventually extend about 90 feet beyond the edge of the branches of the tree.
Do Not Dig a Utility Trench
Don’t dig a utility trench through its roots as it will cause significant interference with its growth. It will cut off many of the roots and inhibit the development of the Oak and its strength and sturdiness in all weathers. In all probability, it will kill the Oak.
Do The Least Amount of Damage
If the laying of a utility trench through the roots cannot be avoided, then find the exact point of the roots to do the least damage. Sometimes you can lay utility lines in a hole bored through the soil—this way doing the least amount of damage.
Don’t Install a Solid Pathway Too Close to the Trunk
It is inadvisable to install a concrete pathway less than 15 feet from the Trunk of these oaks, as there is a good possibility that damage will be caused. Covering a live oak’s root zone with asphalt or concrete will block the oxygen and water that its roots need. That is why it is not recommended to get any closer to the Trunk than around 15 feet.
Water Not Draining? – Taproot Damage and Root Rot
The excellent drainage we spoke of earlier has now presented you with its second reason for necessity – being avoiding water not draining away from the taproot and root rot setting in as a consequence.
Root Retaining Wall
The lateral roots will continue to spread, and it would be wise to retain the natural grade and protects the roots by building a Retaining Wall outside the root zone.
When To Transplant Your Oak Tree
Having taken all this into account, you would think that it’s not a good idea to transplant your oak tree when it’s up to about 20 feet or over, and you would be right. Trying to do such a thing could cause death to the plant and incredible stress and expense for you!
Young Plants Respond Well to Being Moved
Therefore, if you have to transplant it, please do this while the plant is still very young and, say, between two to four feet high. There is every chance that will be a successful transplant and possibly make the plant stronger because of it. However, it’s not something you want to do frequently with large and giant plants.
Plan Carefully
If you’re starting your garden, or if you’re adding to your garden, please make a map, do your research and plan carefully where these new plants will be situated.
Industrial Purposes
You’ll find the highest number of White Oaks being grown for industrial purposes and not amid your lawn by the pool and near the house. That’s because the wood of White Oak is precious – especially in the art of cooperage – barrel making.
The Wood Cells of White Oak are Almost Waterproof
There is a plastic-like substance in the outgrowths on the wood that is called tyloses in the wood cells of white oak trees. It makes durable wood waterproof and explains its use in barrels, containers such as buckets, and ships.
You’ll find that European Oak is known to have higher concentrations of these tyloses, ellagitannins, and coumarins compared to American oak, giving it a sweeter base for whatever goes into the barrel. The American Oaks is somewhat bitter.
This Began at Some Time BC
The barrels are used to store and transport vast quantities of beer, brandy, whiskey, white and red wines, and other alcohol forms.
Cooperage is a trade that is centuries old and first started for the containing of wine in pre-Christian days. It was used extensively by the various Navies, and even today is an art handed down through the centuries and still needed on a worldwide basis.
90 Years To Grow
White Oaks take around 90 Years to Grow before they can be harvested and sent to the mill, where the barrel making process (cooperage) begins.
Maybe, the next time you find yourself near a massive, towering, Mexican White Oak Tree and you feel like sitting in its shade to relax for a while. Enjoy the shade by all means, and maybe this article has given you something to think about while you’re cooling down in the shadows of the branches of this wonderful tree!
