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Live Oak Question

Posted on 7/2/24 at 1:40 pm
Posted by Beaued up
Member since Sep 2015
14 posts
Posted on 7/2/24 at 1:40 pm
I planted 12 live oaks down my driveway in the fall of 2020. They are all growing well and are 3 to 3-1/2” in diameter at the trunk. My question is should I have them pruned by somebody that knows what they are doing to help shape them and for a healthier overall tree or just leave them alone and let nature do its thing? When I bought them they were in 30 gallon buckets and about 1-1/2” in diameter.
Posted by Fishwater
Carcosa
Member since Aug 2010
5974 posts
Posted on 7/2/24 at 1:43 pm to
Good for you for doing this. You'll likely never see the trees like we see in New Orleans or Mobile, but people 100 years from now will love it!

Paying it forward!


Where do you live? That could help us recommend what you need to do.
This post was edited on 7/2/24 at 1:44 pm
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
11497 posts
Posted on 7/2/24 at 1:59 pm to
Structural pruning is always a good idea.
Posted by LSUDad
Still on the move
Member since May 2004
60732 posts
Posted on 7/2/24 at 2:05 pm to
I like to juice them, I use 13-13-13 and Ironite. I like to hit them if I see a number of days of rain. Yes Live Oaks grow slow, but folks plant and forget. The iron help with minerals, much needed.
Posted by Beaued up
Member since Sep 2015
14 posts
Posted on 7/2/24 at 2:40 pm to
I am about 30 mins north of Baton Rouge. I hope to live long enough to see them decent size but I know I will never see them when they are at their best.

I have started putting the 13-13-13 to them but I didn’t know about the iron.
Posted by Stexas
SWLA
Member since May 2013
6587 posts
Posted on 7/2/24 at 3:49 pm to
quote:

down my driveway in the fall of 2020

Sorry for the state of your drive way in 10 years. I have 3 along a driveway that are about 50 yrs old and the previous owners patched the concrete twice before I bought the place 14 years ago. They're beautiful and love them but they're hell on foundations and concrete. I have 17 total that are all around the same age and absolutely love them but just have to deal with them.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
43457 posts
Posted on 7/2/24 at 6:31 pm to
3.5” dia is still a sapling. At about 12” dia you can start to tell which limbs will be dominant and which are just suckers. Leave them alone for a few more years
Posted by Beaued up
Member since Sep 2015
14 posts
Posted on 7/2/24 at 8:49 pm to
I planted them with this in mind. They are about 60’ on either side of the driveway (which is crushed concrete/gravel). I have 6 down each side and the driveway is over 700’ long. I didn’t want them to crowd each other.
Posted by Stexas
SWLA
Member since May 2013
6587 posts
Posted on 7/3/24 at 10:31 am to
60' is a solid buffer, I'm sure that's going to be beautiful.
Posted by Jaspermac
Texas
Member since Aug 2018
469 posts
Posted on 7/4/24 at 4:41 pm to
I recommend pruning every winter but hitting hard every other year. I fertilize mine 4 times a year
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