In the Austin area, the Live Oaks seem to be the most popular of the oaks, at least in new development areas. I think nurserys overcharge for planting trees. The secret to planting large trees is to rent a hand held demolition hammer from HD. You can have the holes dug in a matter of minutes with no hard back work. Let the tool do the work and just keep shoveling out the broken dirt. Avoid the post hole augers, they will just get stuck and don't handle hard clay as easily.

Norbert, that map of your hardiness zones IS CONFUSING TO ME. I am likely wrong, But, I can't help but wonder how HUNGARY is zone 7a and zone 7b, BUT, everyone around them seems to be zone 6b, and possibly zone 6a in some places. Norbert, I am really only able to grow the Quartz mountain Live oak. AND, it is ONLY QMLO trees that have trunk girths of about 3/4 of an inch or more, NOT, those little whips with tiny little trunks that are way smaller than measurement worth measuring. This QMLO I have, It is Extra hardy, and only recently my area has been getting some REALLY hot summers. Is it from global warming? Maybe, or maybe not. BUT, Norbert, IF you really want to grow a Evergreen oak, the Hybrid of Q. Robur ( English oak) and the Q. Ilex ( Evergreen oak) ummmm..... yeah, I can't remember the name of that hybrid oak. I had gotten one to plant about 4 years ago, kinda illegally, BUT, it had died here in my zone 6a winter. Okay, it was called the "Turner's oak". Norbert, if you are really in a a zone 7a area. AND, you can get a "Turners oak" or even a Q. ILEX, Q. ILEX is an evergreen oak that can do great in an area that doesn't have a ton of sunlight in summer and heat. REALLY, the Q. ILex is likely going to be MUCH easier to find in Europe at nurseries to plant. And it IS an Evergreen oak, and it is zone 7a hardy. It is really impressive in old age. NOT, LIve oak tree impressive, BUT, it is a nice tree in old age. I replied to your message Norbert. BTW Norbert, I have my big yard in thanks to my family, I could never afford to buy this OVER 3 ACRES of nice rural property. Since my dad passed away, I am the 1 who cuts the grass and tries to fight back the weeds, and cuts around all of those damned trees I planted. MY dad was super pissed about all of my trees, I had made big mulch circles around them, so it would be easier for him. I miss my dad, he passed away, BUT, ANYWAY, I have been using "GLYPHOSATE" or "GLYPHOSPHATE" which of the 2 means "I"VE BEEN USING "ROUNDUP", and I am hoping that "Glyphosate" or however you say it doesn't prove to be a big cause of cancer, because #1 I use it alot, I don't want cancer #2 It does well to stop weeds from taking over places #3 It is great in Lue of burning weeds to make for garden plots.

mojomom We are thinking of the also getting the Blackstone Oak through our entire house. How does it stand up against footprints and smudges? How do you clean yours and is the upkeep constant? Thanks.

We installed Cyril Oak through out our house a little over a year ago. Im having a terrible time keeping it clean. Dirt gets in the grain pattern which makes it look way darker than when it was new. The only way I’ve have found to clean it is scrubbing with a bleach product. I ordered some of the floor cleaner that Cortec recommended and that cleaned the floor but not the grain pattern. I’ve talked to my housekeeper about changing her pads more oven. I think they were just pushing around dirt. Im so frustrated and disappointed in these floors. They looked beautiful while they were new and after spending 4 hours on my hands and knees scrubbing them. Has anyone else had this issue? And if so what solution have you come up with? I called the Flooring retailer who also did the installation and they recommended trying the diluted bleach cleaner. UGH!