Why Plant Northern Pin Oak?
In an age when wildlife habitat is being destroyed on a daily basis, it’s good to know that you don’t have to stand by and feel helpless. You can plant native trees! Specifically, planting native Oak Trees is one of the best things you can do to support your local ecosystem. The Northern Pin Oak is a particularly valuable tree in the northern states. Besides serving as a great benefit to wildlife, this proud and noble tree will grace your property with welcome shade and natural beauty. When nights get frosty, its handsome, deep green leaves will take on autumnal hues, lighting up your landscape with a blaze of russet-red and scarlet foliage.
The Northern Pin Oak, native to the Upper Midwest states, is closely related to the Scarlet Oak, Red Oak, and Black Oak. It is also related to the more common Pin Oak you see planted so often in cities or wherever a tough shade tree is needed. One advantage of the Northern Pin Oak over the Pin Oak is that it is less insistent upon acid soil and thus less likely to turn chlorotic (yellow) in high-pH soils. In its native haunts, the Northern Pin Oak often inhabits poor, dry soil and there its growth is reduced, but in optimal conditions, it can become a mighty tree. The national champion, in Oakland County, Michigan, tops out at 103 feet, and its canopy is 117 feet wide.
How to use Northern Pin Oak in the landscape?
Fall color on the Northern Pin Oak is variable, but it usually attains a good, deep red. The autumn color—as well as the tree’s general performance—is better in the North than in the South. Plant this valuable native tree in a location where you can enjoy the fall show, but also, where wildlife can access it as a food source!
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 4-7
How To Plant Northern Pin Oak
Plant Northern Pin Oak in a sunny area with lots of elbow room. The soil should be well drained and on the acidic side, though this tree is not as demanding of acidic soil as the closely related Pin Oak.
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 late fall. If planting in the fall, use Elements fertilizer while planting and start your regular annual fertilizing the following 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
No major pests or diseases affect Northern Pin Oak except for Oak wilt. Because of this destructive fungal disease, never prune your Northern Pin Oak when it is actively growing. Prune only during dormancy, from November through February.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
