With fall in the air comes that deep-seated desire for us to plant. The
changing  of seasons leaves the stressful heat and drought of summer

behind and brings promise of cooler temperatures and rainfall.

All gardeners should know that autumn is the best time to plant trees.

My favorites are the shade trees, and I especially love all the oaks. Planted
and watered properly, young trees will grow fast and can dramatically

enhance our landscapes.

Apart from their beauty, there is a practical consideration too. If you plant
them in the right place, shade trees will cool off the air around your home
and help offset costly utility bills.

We have two native Texas oaks that are considered evergreen: the live oak
and the Mexican white oak. Both hold their foliage throughout the winter
months, but then shed their leaves around the end of February-early March.
Spring growth follows in 2 to 3 weeks.

 

Evergreen oaks are also highly effective as  windbreaks and privacy screens.
In addition, when planted on the east, south, and west sides of a house,
they’ll provide you with winter shade.

We also have some deciduous oaks to choose from: the Chinquapin,
Shumard and Bur Oak. For fall color, the Shumards (commonly known
as the Texas red oak) are hard to beat. They carry their brilliant red/
orange fall colors  throughout November and December, and late trees
can hold these colors even into January.

 

The Chinquapin’s fall color is yellow/rust to dark bronze/red.

 

The stately Bur oak sheds its big leaves without fall color change.  However
during the winter months you can enjoy the stark beauty of their bark and
branching structure.

 

Considered slow growing, the oaks have often been overlooked by home-

owners and property developers in their quest for  fast growing shade trees.

People have often made the mistake of choosing soft-wooded trees like
Arizona ash, only to find a few years later that they are short lived and
expensive to remove.

 

The oaks, however, when planted properly and watered on a regular basis,
can grow as much as 3 feet a year in height and width. That’s fifteen feet in
five years. Now that’s shade!.

Happy Gardening Everyone! 

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