Shumard Oak Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on July 26, 2022

Planting instructions

Site your Shumard oak tree in a sunny spot where it will have plenty of room to grow, keeping in mind that a mature tree can have a spread of up to 60 feet. Choose a site with well-drained soil that is not under any overhead utility cables. Unpot the sapling and tease out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root ball and twice as wide, and place the tree in the hole, spreading out the roots. Holding it upright and steady, fill in around the roots with topsoil, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of an organic mulch, such as bark chips, around the tree’s root zone to conserve moisture and hinder weed growth, being careful that it does not touch the trunk.

Watering and nutrients

Water your newly-planted Shumard oak tree once a week during its first year, giving it about an inch of water at a time. This will help it establish a deep and robust root system. In subsequent years, your tree should be fine with minimal watering. If the soil is dry 2 inches below the surface, give it a drink. Mature trees shouldn’t need regular fertilizing, but you can feed young trees to encourage growth with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer.

Pollination

Oak trees are monoecious, meaning that both the male and female reproductive organs are on the same tree. In the case of the Shumard oak tree, the catkins that appear in the spring are wind-pollinated to produce acorns. These drop from the tree or are carried by animals to other locations, where they sprout into new trees.

Pruning

When your Shumard oak tree is young, you can prune it for shape, but this is optional and may not be necessary. Prune out any broken, diseased, or dead branches whenever you see them. Oak trees are prone to a disease called oak wilt, which is caused by attacks on the tree through fresh pruning cuts, so avoid extensive pruning unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Pests, diseases, and animals

There are a number of insect pests that may appear on your oak tree, including the oak shothole leafminer, the cankerworm, and tent caterpillars. None of these is a problem in small numbers, and a healthy tree should have no difficulties fighting off infestations. Diseases of the oak tree include oak wilt, which is a fungus that is introduced through open wounds by beetles. Symptoms include leaf drop and leaves changing color prematurely. Small animals may also be attracted to your oak tree for the acorns, including squirrels, raccoons, and rabbits.

Achieving maximum results

Ensuring success with your Shumard oak tree isn’t hard: it’s an easy tree to grow and is likely to flourish where planted, regardless of its setting. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t steps you can take to encourage its growth, especially while it is young. A mature, 60-foot oak tree can manage with little intervention, but when your tree is newly planted, or only a few years old, it can benefit from supplemental watering when conditions are dry and a spring dose of a general fertilizer to stimulate and encourage robust growth throughout the season. Keep an eye on your young tree and prune out diseased or broken limbs, and you will be rewarded with a handsome specimen tree when it reaches maturity.

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