Why plant Audubon® Native Scarlet Oak Treeling?
The mighty Scarlet Oak. Though few garden centers carry it, this is one of the most spectacular Oak Trees you can grow, and it isn’t hard to please. Plant it as a street tree, as a single specimen in a large lawn, or use it to line your driveway or property border in the country. In time, it will stand tall and proud in your landscape, lifting its strong limbs high above the ground. This long-lived tree will stand for generations as a precious gift to future shade seekers and as an emblem of your own lasting legacy. But don’t think that only your grandchildren will enjoy it! The aptly named Scarlet Oak has some of the most brilliant red fall color of all the Oaks, and it will delight you every year.
You don’t hear much about it. It has to take a backseat to White Oak, Red Oak, and Pin Oak, but Scarlet Oak is a magnificent tree, too. Native to the U.S., it’s common in sandy or rocky soil in the South and is found in smaller populations as far north as Minnesota and Maine. Its fondness for these tough conditions means it is supremely adapted to drought in the landscape. Scarlet Oak in the wild is a boon for wildlife. The acorns are bitter but nutritious and are food for blue jays, woodpeckers, squirrels, and deer. The foliage feeds a wide array of tiny insects, which in turn feed many species of songbirds.
How to use Audubon® Native Scarlet Oak Treeling in the landscape?
How big does Scarlet Oak get? The national champion, in Mercer, New Jersey, tops out at 128 feet in height by 122 feet in spread. It has a trunk over 5 feet thick. Most Scarlet Oaks will only ever get about half that size.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
How To Plant Audubon® Native Scarlet Oak Treeling
Plant Scarlet Oak in a sunny area with lots of elbow room. The soil should be well drained and on the acidic side, thought this tree is not as demanding of acidic soil as the closely related Pin Oak. No major pests or diseases affect Scarlet Oak except for Oak wilt. Because of this destructive fungal disease, never prune your Scarlet Oak when it is actively growing. Prune only during dormancy, from November through February.
How To Water
Water twice weekly for the first 3-5 weeks; then water weekly for the remainder of the year until winter. When you water, water very slowly and very thoroughly. The water needs to reach to the bottom of the root ball and that takes time. Watering needs may be altered due to extreme weather conditions.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant Food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant Food granular form on an annual basis each fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established as it gives your tree the nutrients it needs to produce lush new growth for the following spring.
How To Prune
A young tree may need a little extra support to ensure that it lives a long and healthy life. Stake your new Treeling with a 6-8 foot tall wood or bamboo stake. Use expandable ties that will stretch as the tree grows, fastening the stake to the main trunk from the base to the top. Check the ties every few months, at least twice a year; ensuring the ties are not digging into the trunk. If there is any sign of this, take the tie off and reattach it, giving the tree more room to grow.
As your tree grows, remove a few of the lower branches each year in mid to late summer. Remove these lower branches before they reach 1/2 inch in diameter. It is better to make small cuts to avoid cutting a large, more mature branch - this is too stressful for the tree. Each year, make any corrective pruning needed, paying particular attention to removing damaged branches, rubbing branches, multiple leaders at the top, or suckers at the base. Limit any pruning to no more than 25% of the branching structure in a given year. Pruning benefits the tree and helps to achieve a balanced tree form.
After two or three years you can feel free to remove the stake from the tree.