Oak trees are a staple in Texas and Live Oaks are considered a favorite throughout Texas. If you are one of the fortunate ones to have an oak tree in your yard, then you know how great these trees are. After all, a mature oak specimen provides plenty of shade, which is a precious thing to have in the summertime. Oaks are family favorites that can create life-long memories, too. With the proper care, oak trees can live for hundreds of years. Learn how to properly care for oaks so that generations upon generations can enjoy climbing, exploring, or spending days on end swinging on a tire swing.

Oak trees love to grow in our area – they like warm, moist weather. They prefer to grow in a location with full sun exposure, which is at least six hours of direct sunlight. Give an oak tree room to breathe, and they will reward your landscape. If you decide on planting other plants around an oak tree, be sure to select those that are drought-tolerant and don’t require summer watering. We recommend laying two to three inches of mulch around the base of the oak tree to keep it from drying out.

Watering: Young oak trees need regular watering. Do not overwater them. Once the tree has matured, water about once a month, do not water more than that. There is no need to water your oak in the winter – let the winter precipitation water it for you. We recommend using a drip system, which allows for a slow and gradual watering.

Pruning: Evergreen oak trees are beautiful without pruning, Deciduous oaks can benefit from an annual trim. A great reason to prune is to control the size and remove diseased branches. Always leave the branch collar. We recommend holding off on trimming until after July.

Fertilizing: Young oak trees will require fertilizer to grow. Mature oaks need fertilizer to maintain good health. A balanced fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is a good option. You can also fertilize with a nitrogen-based fertilizer, such as one that a surrounding lawn will appreciate. Feel free to keep the leaves that fall from a deciduous oak on the ground. As the fallen leaves decompose, they can saturate the soil with nutrients.

Top Oak Trees to Plant in Texas

An evergreen oak tree can provide year-round color to yards, while deciduous oak trees are excellent shade providers during our bright and hot summers.

Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana): A favorite tree for Texas landscapes! When you are looking for a beautiful shade tree for the summer, there are not too many better trees than a specimen Live Oak. Dense dark green foliage can provide plenty of shade, and it’s a clean tree, also! It’s an evergreen so that it will add greenery to your yard all year long. This tree has superior wind resistance and prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. Can live for centuries!

Shumard Red Oak (Quercus shumardii): Enjoy comfortable shade coverage in the summer and take in the beautiful fall colors when the leaves turn to a brilliant red to a red-orange color. This deciduous tree tolerates air pollution and poor drainage, so it is an excellent tree for urban gardens, too. Plant them in a location that receives at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight every day. A superb tree selection for yards in Houston.

Monterrey Oak (Quercus polymorpha): Also known as the Mexican White Oak, this fast-growing tree is a favorite throughout Texas. It prefers to grow in a location with full sun to partial shade exposure. A specimen tree features a spreading canopy with green foliage that produces dense shade. It drops its leaves in the winter so that it can let the light in. This deciduous tree gets bonus points for its resistance to Oak Wilt and its ability to adapt to a wide range of soil types.

Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muelenbergii): Make a beautiful statement planting this magnificent oak tree in your lawn. It features a spreading canopy capable of blocking sunlight to create shade. They prefer to receive at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day and it can adapt to a wide range of soil conditions. It’s a deciduous shade tree that lets in the light during winter.

Nuttall Oak (Quercus nutallii): This oak tree is a gem in any Texas landscape. It quickly grows into a pyramidal-shaped tree that can produce shade. It can adapt to a wide range of soil conditions, and it doesn’t develop surface roots, so it is an excellent street, lawn, or patio tree. In the fall, its deeply lobed, dark green leaves transform to a show-stopping bright red color. This deciduous prefers to grow with full sun exposure.

Our Oak Trees are Value Engineered So You Get the Best-Quality Trees at the Best Price!

If you are looking for the biggest oak trees to provide instant shade, you have come to the right place. We custom-grow the biggest oak trees that you will find anywhere! And, we grow them in our local climate so that they will thrive in your landscape.