bumping

Live oaks including coastal live oaks grow wide versus tall -- can you post a pic?

Here are some pictures. Off the base trunk, there are 4 large branches - 1 upright, largest diameter around 10" that I'm trying to keep as the leader by subordinating the others, 2nd almost upright (about 8" diam maybe 30 degrees) that I am trying to subordinate, 3 and 4 are smaller diameters (maybe 6") that grow more like 50-60 degrees off upright). Except for one ~4" diam branch, everything else off leader #1 is scraggly, like less than 2" diameter, though long, like 8-10 ft. So then they seem like they are end heavy and droop down.

Some even do this weird thing where the end curls up?? I couldn't get a shot of better example, but in the close up picture, the end curling up is the one that's leaf-less. Usually there are a sparse amount of leaves on the curl up part. But maybe it'll stand out better in this picture because it's the part that's just brown.

Close up of main branches

"Curling up" part

Actually, I had a picture I took a couple of years ago of this "Curling up" phenomemon

I don't know the answer, but, I am wondering if the OP's "Coastal live oak" is possibly not an eastern Live oak? Is the OP asking about a western coastal oak? I am likely not correct, but, thought maybe there is a misunderstanding, and the OP is in the west? Sorry if I am wrong, if so, just forget this post of mine.

This looks like Quercus agrifolia, our California native coast live oak. They live a long time...we have 5-6 that we planted from #15s about 12-15 years ago and they look just like this. The ones that have long, curling horizontal branches are probably at least 50 years old, if not older. Valley oak, Quercus lobster, probably takes 50 years to look halfway decent. We should have all planted these when we were 10 years old.

OP here. Yes, I'm on the west coast and it's a Quercus Agrifolia (well, at least that's what the planter said, I haven't asked it directly :-) ) Sigh, I knew I should have planted one when I was 10 - but I didn't own this property then! I told my kids I planted one for each when they were each born. So I guess they'll get to enjoy the gnarly look of it when they grow up. Which means they are going to continue fighting well into middle-age. Grr.

Thanks for the confirmation Sara!

Also, a tell-tale sign I'm on the west coast - the neighbor's palm tree in the background :-p

Lily, looks normal, even those curl ups with few leaves, eventually this will go wide and it looks to be at the start of that now.

An aside--the Valley Oak is Quercus lobata, not Quercus lobster, which sounds--fishy.

Q. agrifolia is variable in growth habit. The ones in my area tend to be quite vertical. In my MIL's area they were much more spreading. The foliage also varies--the leaf margins can be quite toothy, or even smooth.

Oy...spellcheck...definitely not lobster!

Joe - so those curl ups - just leave them and they'll do what they need? I think the one's at the bottom get pruned off by our gardner (because they start getting in the walk way). Other than the very seldom pruning to try to subordinate the competing branches, I leave the rest to nature. Plus, I cant reach them anyway!

Here's the backyard for a house for sale about 15 miles away. Sigh. Maybe I just need to move.

They fall off after they dry out completely, given a windy day.

Hoovb - those curl ups do? That's interesting. I'll have to keep my eye out for that. Certainly some are no longer there - didn't know if they managed to straighten themselves out or what. Thanks for that info.

You are just discovering that the normal progression of growth is not what you expected. It takes many, many years before a live oak will expend energy on substantial horizontal branch development.