GARDENING: Think before you plant trees

There’s no better time to plant a tree than right now or as the saying goes...20 years ago. But now is the next best time. Even in light of the drought and water limitations, now is a good time. But before you plant, consider the species.

Worried about outdoor watering? You can always reuse grey water from the kitchen sink, shower or tub to keep a new tree watered. New trees don’t need that much water but the soil must be kept moist for the first year. Eliminating turfgrass and other plants from under the dripline of the tree and maintaining a 4 inch layer of mulch will keep the soil moist longer and stretch your water resources greatly. There are also water bags that can placed around your new tree to allow water to slowly seep out like a drip line. Or you can fit gallon water jugs with a drip emitter to slowly release water. Those jugs could be filled with dish water and placed around the new tree. Ok, back to the trees.

Many oak trees are attractive, tough and well suited to local landscapes. Consider these water efficient oaks.

Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is a large, rugged but handsome oak that will grow approximately 75 feet tall and 40 wide. It is deciduous, large leaves and it has very large acorns which make cleanup a little easier. Bur oak bark is thick which helps protect it from wildfire damage. Bur oaks have good drought and heat tolerance and seed collected from it’s western most range, which is Menard County have the genetics for the best drought tolerance. It may have natural resistance to oak wilt fungus. There are many good specimens to see in the area.

Chinkapin oak (Q. muehlenbergii) is also a large oak worth consideration. It has been planted by many West Texas towns as a street tree. While it is native to several areas of Texas it there are native stands in the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos mountains. It too is a deciduous tree that drops its leaves in the fall and also has a large acorn. It makes a good landscape tree growing in tough conditions, with medium to low water needs. It typically grows about 50 tall and 30 wide. There is a nice specimen of Chinkapin and Bur oak a the Compost Garden located at the Odessa Recycle Time Machine on West 42nd Street.

Mexican White Oak (Q. polymorpha) is an outstanding, handsome oak that should be used more in our area. This deciduous tree grows about 40 feet tall and 30 wide. The leaves are tough and hang on into the winter. The tree has good drought resistance. This tree species is hard to find but there are some nurseries in Texas that grow this species so be sure to ask your local garden center for availability. See four specimens at the Loop 250 and Highway 191 interchange.

Lacy Oak (Q. glaucoides) is a medium size tree which is much better size for most urban homes. It grows about 35 feet tall, is native to several areas in central and west Texas. It grows in thin, limestone soils and has excellent drought resistance. The new growth is pinkish but the leaves develop a bluish look due to the waxy cuticle layer that covers the leaves that resist dessication. This tree may be a little hard to but it is out there and would be an excellent one to look for.

There are many other oaks worthy of more attention like Escarpment, Gambel, Chisos Red Oak, and others. Water will always be a hurdle for us...so choose your species well.

Questions? Contact Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service for help at 432-425-1361.