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Questions about Shumard Oak and Chinquapin Oak..

13 years ago

Hi there, We are building a new home in Prosper, which is about 40 minutes north of Dallas, and we are searching for trees to plant. I have dedcided on a Bur Oak for the back yard, and I am interested in a Shumard Oak for the front yard. However, my father-in-law has told me that he wouldn't plant the Shumard because it is prone to Oak Wilt. He is very knowlegable and I don't want to plant a tree that is going to die. Is his advice not to plant the Shumard good advice? What about the Chinquapin Oak? Is this a good tree? I'm also considering a Magnolia tree but just can't decide on it. Half of the time I see them, they are beautiful, the other half of the times I see them they seem to be covered with yellow leaves. I don't know if they are sick, or if they always get yellow leaves. Any thought would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Comments (2)

Embothrium
13 years ago
The yellow-leaved ones are having a hard time. You may be aware that Chinkapin oak is a Texas Superstar. They also recommend Lacey oak. Both are suited to certain parts of the state only, don't know where Dallas fits in this.

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas SuperStar Plants
lou_spicewood_tx
13 years ago
Shumard certainly does great around here in DFW. For a while, it used to be a big problem with the seed source being from the east that can't grow in alkaline soil. I was a victim of it. I know now what to look for. I saw all of those trees at the nurseries lately and it seemed that they have fixed that problem. How prone are they to oak wilt? I don't know. I see great big red oak trees around here so I wouldn't call it a problem yet but it may have more to do with how you treat the trees. Organically cared for, properly watered, etc might do better than heavily dependent on chemicals, poor water management, etc.

Chinkapin oak is a great oak with ugly fall color. I don't know about Lacy Oak mainly because of super slow growth based on my observation at my neighbor down the street. Perhaps poor maintenance or badly girdled? After several years, I don't think it even topped total growth amount of a foot. I had Shantung maple that was the same size of that tree 3 years ago is much bigger now. Mexican white oak (alternative evergreen oak to live oak for oak wilt resistant in central Texas), Canby oak (evergreen red oak, bald cypress (central Texas source, not eastern if you can find one ), Montezuma cypress (more evergreen cousin of bald cypress)are others for you to try out.

What kind of soil do you have?
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