Solid, massive, and gnarled as a gnome are adjectives that describe most oaks, however, the pin oak (Quercus palustris) breaks all of the rules. More like an elf than a gnome, pin oaks are straight, graceful and slender, with a strong central leader and quite slim, pinlike twigs. The uniquely shaped leaves are a gorgeous dark green in summer turning into dull scarlet in the fall.
Description
The pin pine grows rapidly — up to 3 feet a year — and it may reach a height of 100 feet, but usually it stays under 70 feet in the wild and also somewhat shorter when cultivated. Its canopy is conical or rounded and can extend as wide as the tree is tall. Native to the eastern United States, the tree thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 though 8 and can live for 150 decades.
Growing Requirements
Pin oaks are also called swamp oaks, since they like moist and even wet soil. They thrive in deep, poorly drained ground and accept a developing site with sun, partial shade or shade. But branches growing in full shade may die and break off. Pin oaks are planted with triumph in urban centres, and also the species thrives in regions far from its native range.
Planting a Young Tree
If you are trying to find an easy-to-grow oak for backyard shade, the pin oak may be the tree to get you when your ground is moist and at least slightly acidic. These trees grow in clay, loam or sand as long as the pH is below 6.8, so you do not have to amend the soil. If your soil is extremely alkaline, you need to select a different planting place or a different tree. This oak does not have the deep tap roots that may make transplanting field-grown oaks problematic. Pin oak’s roots are shallow, and the tree transplants easily. You can plant a pin oak everywhere on your house as the root cause damage potential is reduced. As with all deciduous tree planting, it is ideal to proceed in late fall or early spring, remove all grass and weeds from the region, dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide, and water well after planting. Oaks typically do not require staking.
Planting Instructions
Your planting measures vary depending upon if you purchased a bare-root tree, a tree with its root ball wrapped in burlap or a single that has been container-grown. Bare root trees have no soil on their roots and must be planted in early spring. It helps to raise a small mound of soil in the base of the planting hole, then place the tree on the mound, and spread the roots it around. As you fill the hole up with pulled ground, compact it gently. Ball-and-burlap trees have soil for their roots. You can place the whole root ball, burlap and all, into the planting hole, then cut and remove all of twine or cord, and fill the hole up. If the burlap is plastic burlap, you need to remove it by sliding it gently from beneath the root ball until you fill in the sides of the hole. A container-grown tree must be removed from the container. You will need to relax and trim any wound roots before setting the root ball in the planting hole and filling in the dirt around the edges. With all kinds of tree transplants, it is important that the soil level on the newly planted tree stays at the same level as in the earlier planting. You may place a discoloration to the back of this bare root tree signaling the previous soil level. When the tree is planted, you must press the hose into the ground and permit it to run until water pools around the surface, and repeat it each week during the first planting season.
Planting a Seed
Increasing your own pin oak is much more than a pipe dream. Oaks are most frequently propagated from seed. You can boost your chances for success by picking acorns in the tree as soon as their color changes from green to brown, and sowing them instantly. You can put them right from the soil, or else plant them in deep containers. In case you have issues with weevils, it will help to soak up the acorns in warm water for 15 minutes before planting. If you reside in a mild zone with no temperature drop in winter, then you must store the acorns on your fridge for 30 to 45 days before planting.