Description

Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) is a large evergreen tree with a moderate growth habit that matures up to 80' tall and 60' to 100” wide. It is unparticular about its soil, so it will thrive in California gardens and is compatible with natives and low-water plant palettes. It is important to be certain that your garden has the appropriate space to support this tree. When the tree is young, it can be a beautiful specimen as part of a sun garden composition. As it reaches maturity, it will become a dense shade tree, and the plant selection under the tree will likely need to be changed to a shade palette. The natural shape of this tree will develop nicely and will require very little pruning, fertilizing, or maintenance when it is young. Cross-branching should be pruned out to keep the canopy open, but the tree should never be hedged. Once it has been in place for a few years, the pruning should be left to a licensed arborist to keep the tree looking and performing at its best. This tree should be planted at least 10 feet away from any hardscape areas, 30 feet from structures such as houses and buildings, and not near any powerlines. Shrubs and perennials should be planted about six feet away from this tree. It should be irrigated for about 30 minutes, twice a week, when using most in-line drip irrigation systems.