Oak trees have been a symbol of strength for a long time. They are also known to live for a very long time, given the right conditions. The reason they became a symbol of strength is because they themselves are very strong and are able to survive some of the harshest storms, when healthy. The wood it produces is undoubtedly very strong as well and is commonly used in the making of furniture, homes, and boats.
Oak trees are not only used for their strong wood, but also for their beauty. There are even certain species that produce distinctive lobed leaves, allowing them to stand out. Then, when fall comes around, they become even more majestic when their leaves turn bright and brilliant colours that add texture and a unique spectacle to the changing environment.
The beauty is so amazing that you might even want one for your own yard. Our team here at Five Star Tree Services is going to go over a few different types of oak trees that might be perfect for your landscape! These are guaranteed to have spectacular fall colours, great shade, and amazing texture.
Different Types of Oaks
You might be interested to know that oaks are one of the oldest trees in the world. Archeologists have been able to date them back to around 65 million years ago. A healthy oak can even live to about 200-300 years old. But do you know where these big trees come from? Little tiny acorns. A single oak tree is able to produce roughly 10 million acorns over the course of its lifetime.
Not only are oak trees beneficial to people but they are also great for animals. They are able to support more than 500 moth and butterfly species, which is more than other native trees can do. Insects also like to find homes in oak trees, which helps to feed the birds. Not to mention that small animals like squirrels also can utilize them for things like food, shade, and shelter. They also help larger animals, such as the white-tailed deer, who eats the acorns during the fall and winter season, which is about 75% of their diets.
Around the world, you can find more than 600 species of oak trees. Let’s go over a small handful of our favourites that are great for providing dazzling colourful displays during the fall months, when the leaves change colours. These are going to range from bronzes, to golds, to reds, and everything in between.
Black Oak
It might be apparent that the name comes from the outward appearance from the almost black bark that you see, along with the deep orange or yellow inner bark of the tree. Being quite a statement tree, you can enjoy the green glossy leaves in the summer and then enjoy them again then they turn orange and red in the fall. This tree has a tendency to look very similar to a red oak, but one of the major differences is that black oaks are a little smaller and are able to tolerate drier soil conditions.
Specifications:
-Growing Zones: 3-9
-Sun Tolerance: Full sun, which can equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight each day
-Soil: Needs slightly acidic, well-drained, and rich soil
-Growing height: 50-60 feet
White Oak
This oak tree is great for shade and can easily be spotted by the light colour of its bark. During the spring, it comes out with pinkish leaves that later on turn to dark green. The leaves of this tree are 4-9 inches long, have 7-9 lobes, and turn reddish-brown in the fall.
Specifications:
-Growing Zone: 3-9
-Sun Tolerance: Full sun, which can equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight each day
-Soil: Needs to be planted in well drained and slightly acidic soil
-Growing Height: 80 feet
Red Oak
This oak doesn’t have its name for nothing. It offers the brightest red leaves out of all the oak trees. In the fall, the leaves turn a beautiful deep red. During the summer, it has glossy green leaves and an open canopy. This is a widely adaptable tree and it also grows much faster than other oaks.
Specifications:
-Growing Zone: 3-9
-Sun Tolerance: Full sun, which can equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight each day
-Soil: Needs to be plated in slightly acidic, moist, but well-drained soil
-Growing Height: 50-75 feet
Bur Oak
One of the defining features of this tree is that it has unique acorns. They are larger than other trees and are fringed. It grows in a round shape that is dense with leaves, offering lovely shade and is able to tolerate heat stress and pollution. In the fall the leaves of this oak tree can turn either yellow/green, muted yellow, or yellow/brown.
Specifications:
-Growing Zones: 3-8
-Sun Tolerance: Full sun, which can equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight each day
-Soil: Needs neutral to alkaline soil
-Growing Height: 60-80 feet
Pin Oak
Typically found along rivers in eastern and central US, this oak tree’s unique feature is its distinctive branching pattern. It has large leaves that are pointed with sweeping U-shaped spaces between lobes. The leaves in the fall turn a scarlet red and eventually become bronze later in the fall.
Specifications:
-Growing Zone: 4-8
-Sun Tolerance: Full sun, which can equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight each day
-Soil: Needs slightly acidic soil. Can tolerate wet and heavy clay soils
-Growing Height: 60-70 feet
Live Oak
These are not usually super tall but they do have winding and spiraling branches which have the ability to grow into a massive diameter, larger than other oak trees, and this helps to provide a large area of shade. Another special thing about this particular type of tree is that it is the only evergreen, not a deciduous tree like the rest. This specific oak tree is one of the strongest and was used in colonial times for making ships in the US Navy. The glossy leathery leaves on this tree are 1-3 inches long and are dark green with lighter green underneath, which lasts during the entire winter.
Specifications:
-Growing Zone: 8-11
-Sun Tolerance: Full sun, which can equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight each day
-Soil: Needs to be planted in slightly acidic soil
-Growing Height: 40-80 feet
How Five Star Tree Services Can Help
Whether you are looking for the best oak tree for your yard or any other tree, our professionals here at Five Star Tree Services can help! With our wide variety of services, we can help you with all your tree care services in Richmond Hill! Give us a call today at (416) 990-3355!