How to Plant & Care for a Bur Oak Tree

Bur oak trees need regular care.

A bur oak is a valuable shade tree, and gardeners can grow bur oaks from acorns or seedlings. Care for a bur oak tree throughout its life cycle and ensure that it receives the right nutrients, lighting, pruning and attention from the time it is planted. Proper care helps to keep the tree growing strong and healthy, and regular attention to the tree will solve pest problems before they are able to damage the bur oak.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Fertilizer
• Peat moss
• Mulch
• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Examine the bur oak tree sapling before purchasing or planting it. A sapling should have a strong root-ball wrapped in burlap or another garden wrap to protect the roots and keep them damp.

2. Check the trunk and branches of the tree for broken portions, damaged bark or branches, dead or dying leaves, and signs of pest or fungal problems. Do not plant a bur oak tree that shows signs of damage or illness, as it can spread problems to the rest of the garden and the tree may not survive.

3. Dig a hole in a well-drained area of the garden or lawn that receives partial to full sunlight. The hole should be twice as wide as the root ball of the bur oak sapling and deep enough to cover the roots completely.

4. Use the shovel to turn over the soil within the hole and add fertilizer and peat moss to the soil. Fertilizer adds nutrients, and peat moss helps ensure that the pH of the soil remains healthy for the bur oak tree.

5. Place the sapling in the hole and fill it with soil. Water the tree to help settle the soil around the tree.

6. Cover the area around the base of the tree with mulch. Avoid putting mulch directly at the base of the bur oak's trunk, as this can trap water against the trunk and promote the growth of harmful fungi.

7. Water the tree daily or weekly, as needed. Drier areas require more watering, while areas with plenty of rain and moist soil need less. The soil around the bur oak should be kept moist but not saturated, as excess water can promote root rot, a harmful fungus. Young trees can also be drowned by too much watering.

8. Fertilize the tree during the spring and once every month or every two months during the summer. This helps to supplement the nutrients in the soil and keep the tree healthy and resistant to pests and disease.

9. Begin pruning the tree after it has grown for a full season. Prune the bur oak in the early spring before it has begun to produce buds, to avoid damaging the tree's growth.

10. Check the tree for dead and damaged branches, or branches that show signs of fungal or insect problems. Cut off these branches with pruning shears; make angled cuts at the nearest branch or the trunk of the tree.

11. Prune any straggling branches, branches that rub against the trunk or block other branches from receiving sunlight. Make angled cuts with the pruning shears to help reduce damage to the bur oak.

12. Prune small branches from the top of the tree to encourage new growth and help light reach all portions of the bur oak.

References

• Utah State University Forestry Extension: Bur Oak
• University of Minnesota Extension: Tree Fertilization
• University of Missouri Extension: Selecting Landscape Plants
• Clemson University Extension: Oak

Resources

• Kansas Forest Service: Bur Oak
• Iowa State University Extension: Bur Oak
• Oklahoma Cooperative Extension: Growing Oak Trees From Seed