I really don't think it'll need staking. It should be able to feel itself out as it grows. Perhaps someone else can chime in as well.

Actually 2' per year is still slow for a tree. Some oaks can grow faster than that when young, red oak for instance. Fast growing trees may grow 2 yards per year - or more.

Is it a new one that you just planted? Usually first year, we see almost nothing but 2nd or 3rd year (depending on the size of tree in my case) is when we see most growth. Some oak species can grow as much as 5-7 feet in a year if the weather is perfect. However if the weather is perfect during the first year, first year transplant trees will grow a bunch as I've seen it in my trees. Long mild rainy spring will yield the most growth for sure...

I highly suggest that you provide 5-7 feet wide of mulch around the tree for faster growth for the next 2 years. Grass tend to rob water and nutrients away from tree roots...

I would never stake trees that small. Remove the stakes you have and let it find it's leader. You can trim down a few competing leaders if it appears that a nasty fork is occuring.

Yup. Remove the stakes PDQ and add a mulch ring. Give it at least one more year for structural pruning (e.g. let it find it's leader) depending upon how much flopping around you get.

Dan

That is another good point; the mulched areas around the oak is way too small for a tree of that size.

Remove the stakes?? U guys are kidding right? I just put those up because the trees were practically keeling over! Not only The wind will snap them but they are growing all out of whack.

So you think the bad one will straighten out? Hope so. I'm still shocked how much they grew this year compared to last.

Wide ring to be shown this year when this one is cut down in future.

Well, I'd guess the tree was flopping due to the improper staking evident in the first picture. Apparently the subsequent pix show a new staking job.

If you are staking to prevent it from keeling over, proper staking will do the trick, viz.

{{gwi:402412}}

....Altho I'd ensure there was no branch rubbing against stakes, as may happen in this diagram.

Dan

I'd keep the tree staked this summer if its keeling over now. Then loosen up just a little early fall. If ok from that, loosen up a tad more in late next spring, etc. Incrementally allowing more and more freedom of movement.
Oaks don't necessarily grow straight like most conifers do.
Straightening one up may be a hard thing to do. Let it grow like it wants to for 2-3 years to get established and then selectively trim off the parts you don't want.
Nice diagram of how to plant.

Nice diagram of how to plant.

The BH used this diagram as a framework for her tree program literature, and we try to spread it far and wide.

:o)

Dan

No, a red oak family tree can grow surprisingly fast. I would spray roundup aroud the base, wait a couple of weeks for the grass to die off, and spread some more mulch.

I transplanted and grew a red oak at my last house, and i was impressed with 1) very symmetrical growth; 2) excellent fall color; 3) no spraying required.

My only concern with this tree is it looks kinda close to the sidewalk, i don't know what kind of traffic this place gets tho.

Hello all

Every year I grow Red Oak from seed.I try to choose straight tall trees to collect from.Then in recent years I only keep the best 2/3rds of each years crop.I am planting them in a 20 year old plantation where trees have died and enough sunlight hits the ground.There have been several trees that get about 6-10 feet tall then pour on the growth some 5-6 feet per year.Some flop over,and it may take a year or two to form a new leader but in the process strenghten the trunk.Others that grow that much don't put on as much growth the following year.

I am trying to grow tall straight trees for lumber,on a lawn I can see where it may not look so good.If you stake try to remove the stakes after a year or two,or you could try cutting the leader back,just before the bend in the flopping leader.The tree should form a new leader from the first strong bud.That way you wouldn't have unsightly stakes.Do this when the tree is leafless to avoid disease.

This is how I would do it.just my opinion.

lp