Bur Oak

Introduction

Bur Oak is a huge tree reaching a height and spread of 70-90 feet and had an impressive crown, massive trunk, and stout branches. Bark is an unusual light brown to gray, and is deeply furrowed on older trees. Acorns create a sizeable clean-up job in a maintained landscape. Architects like the tree due to its uniformity in crown shape.

Use and Management

Bur Oak is well suited for street, park and parking lot planting but enough soil space should be available to accommodate growth. This large oak should not be planted in the street lawn strip less than 10‘ wide.

This oak will adapt to various soils where other oaks sometimes fail but is difficult to transplant due to the taproot. It is well adapted to alkaline soils, poor drainage, high clay content and is very drought-tolerant.

Planting

• Typically planted in 10, 15, 30, 45 or 65 gal containers.
• B&B trees are specified in height (6’ – 8’ ht, etc) or caliper (3” cal., etc)
• Container trees can be double the price of B&B trees
• Plant container trees in late summer, if price allows
• Plant B&B trees if they were dug and cured in the winter months