Florida Sand Live Oak

[onlyrey]

I bought this tree as nursery stock from a Florida native nursery about 1-1/2 years ago; it is a Florida sand live oak. The reason I bought it is because of its very tiny leaves. At the moment (spring) just about all of them were about 1/2" and was very well ramified, but about 8' tall, so I shortened it to about 3' from the soil line.

This tree is pushing it on my limit of size, so I will either cut it down to no about 2' or sell it on ebay... I don't know yet.

The trunk is about 2-1/2" diameter, and the nebari at the soil line is about 4".

Like many oaks, it has a widening at the bottom of the trunk, in this case it makes a real good taper (in my mind). I was asked to post pictures by a user at another forum, but since I am using the nut to document my trees I am posting it here.

If you have any suggestions or you are used to working with this species please feel free to continue this thread.

The pictures:
- Leave sizes: This seasons' leaves = 3/8" to 1/2", about 8 months old leave = 1", last year's leaves: 1-1/2"
- The whole tree
- Nebari front
- Nebari back

 

[wahoo172]

an idea

Onlrey,

Nice tree, here is a quick vert I did as a suggestion. Saw the trunk off above the branch growing up on the right center where I began my shading. That branch will quickly grow into a new leader and create more taper. Be sure you do not cut too close to the branches you want to keep. I always leave more stub in the beginning, it can be trimmed back further with pruners later on. This tree could be styled as a broom if that suits your taste. Tomorrow I will take a few pictures of an oak I am working on in a similar fashion. I also think the tree should be potted into a larger shallow box or pot to give more root run as you grow the new branches and heal the cuts.
I see this tree's final height about 6 inches taller than the chop I suggest.
The leader will need to be left to grow without pruning until it is about 1/3 the size of the trunk below it. Then you can begin pruning to line.
I hope This makes sense, I have been known to babble.

George

 

[onlyrey]

George,

Thanks for the comments, they do make sense. Yes, what you are suggesting is probably what I intend to do in Spring. I haven't seen an oak styled in broom style yet, but I will try it with this one. I am interested in seeing your oak progression.

Thanks

 

[wahoo172]

pix

Onlyrey,
here is a picture of the cut site on the oak I am working on.

When I cut this tree, I just cut it straight across, there was no branching anywhere. The growth you see is two years worth and the tree is about 10 feet tall right now.
I will carve into the cut site in the spring and then let the top grow another year untrimmed. This should finish healing the wound, then I can begin reducing the top.

 

[onlyrey]

Wahoo, nice tree; I can see the broom there already. What is the size of that tree? What kind of oak is it?

 

[sorce]

1-1/2 years

Be about 9 years now....?

Sorce

 

[onlyrey]

It actually hasn't changed much. I moved to SC a couple of years and put it at my parents garden in FL for about 3 years (about a year before moving), during that time, my parents also moved and I had to move the tree also. Their gardener came off season and trimmed it as if were a bush, etc. .. But, somehow it made it and I brought it to SC this winter. If it comes out of dormancy, it won't be much different than in 8 years ago. I'll update this post with a pic if it wakes up.

 

[onlyrey]

Here it is Today. Hasn't pushed any buds yet.

 

[sorce]

Here it is Today. Hasn't pushed any buds yet.

View attachment 98859

So cool!

Sorce