Coast live oak collected

[Hbhaska]

I collected this tree this morning from a backyard because the owner is redoing her yard. It has some interesting branching and some curvature in the trunk. Regardless, I will defoliate most of the leaves, partly because it has some powdery black coatings on leaves, could be fungus. I collected it with plenty of native soil and what appears to be feeder roots. I hope it survives and pushes out new growth. Once it gets going, chopping will begin. Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Hbhaska]

Potted up for now.

 

[Crawforde]

I like oaks, but have no experience with California oaks.
it looks to have a nice thick trunk, so I would keep it watered and give it a good long time to recover and root into that pot before any heavy chopping.
my feelings are mixed on defoliation after collecting. I’ve done it, and succeeded with live oaks, but have failed as well. I think the tree might be able to sense how many leaves it needs/ can support and so could be left to allocate its resources.
maybe a California person can advise.

 

[Hbhaska]

I like oaks, but have no experience with California oaks.
it looks to have a nice thick trunk, so I would keep it watered and give it a good long time to recover and root into that pot before any heavy chopping.
my feelings are mixed on defoliation after collecting. I’ve done it, and succeeded with live oaks, but have failed as well. I think the tree might be able to sense how many leaves it needs/ can support and so could be left to allocate its resources.
maybe a California person can advise.

I think I will act based on how the tree responds but for now it’s done. Even then, I wouldn’t do a complete defoliation. And yes, if someone has any ideas let me know.

 

[rockm]

I wouldn't defoliate. I have some experience with southern live oaks. I'd just let the tree alone, other than keeping it in shade and watered (not too much water) Allow it to adjust to its new conditions. That may include dropping its leaves, maybe ALL of its leaves. If that happens don't assume it is dead. It may produce a new crop of leaves...

 

[BrianBay9]

I wouldn't defoliate. I have some experience with southern live oaks. I'd just let the tree alone, other than keeping it in shade and watered (not too much water) Allow it to adjust to its new conditions. That may include dropping its leaves, maybe ALL of its leaves. If that happens don't assume it is dead. It may produce a new crop of leaves...

Most of the experienced coast live oak collectors that I've spoken to, recommend defoliation after collection - but they are collecting in Jan/Feb. Don't know how the tree will respond now. I would go ahead and take off the entire trunk above the first major branch on the right.

 

[rockm]

Most of the experienced coast live oak collectors that I've spoken to, recommend defoliation after collection - but they are collecting in Jan/Feb. Don't know how the tree will respond now. I would go ahead and take off the entire trunk above the first major branch on the right.

That's why I said I have experience with SOUTHERN live oak. Experienced collectors of that species use leaf retention as a sign of recovery--it's counterintuitive. The person who collected my big live oak (quercus fusiformis) said if a collected oak retains its leaves, it wouldn't recover well, if at all. While those that dropped their leaves in the weeks after collection, had a high survival rate.

Personally, I wouldn't completely defoliate. Foliage can help drive root growth. I'd take off half of the leaves and see what happens. It is a weird time to collect and the seasonal changes (even in Cali.) complicate it.

 

[TimberLakers]

I've transplanted a couple live oak from nursery cans to bonsai mix / pot.

A couple years ago I had trunk die back on one, and in retrospect may have overworked the roots.

Has made me a bit gun shy on oak roots in general.

Interested to see how this works out for you. Good luck!

 

[Wulfskaar]

Wow, that's nice! This guys knows a thing or two about coast live oak.

September is 2-3 months early for collecting, so I'd let it be until winter/spring.

 

[Hbhaska]

Nov 20, 2021: I didn’t defoliate but rather helped the tree by removing dead or dying (browning) foliage. The tree responded by putting out a flush of budding and new foliage. This means that the tree is on its way to recovery. Coast live oak is a broadleaved evergreen in Southern California so I expect perhaps a slow down in winter but continuous foliage development.

 

[BrianBay9]

Nice! I've never done any fall collecting of these guys - usually start pulling some in late December. I'm glad to see it responded well. I'll be starting my collecting in a few weeks.

 

[Wulfskaar]

I collected a few small ones last fall and one has survived. It was one of the smaller ones that I stuck in a succulent pot. It's a stick in a pot but I'm stoked that it's alive. I plan to look around my property for some bigger ones very soon.

 

[Esolin]

Nice, I'm glad it survived. I didn't know if it would when being dug in the hottest part of the year. Are you gonna trunk chop it eventually?

 

[Hbhaska]

Nice, I'm glad it survived. I didn't know if it would when being dug in the hottest part of the year. Are you gonna trunk chop it eventually?

Thanks. Yes, for sure truck chop. Either that or air-layer followed by trunk chop.

 

[Esolin]

Cool. I guess it couldn't hurt to give it a try, but I've heard oaks are almost impossible to layer, so if it doesn't work, probably not anything you did wrong.