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How to thin an oak grove?

 
Reno Husker
Posts: 69
Location: Burnet County TX zone 8a
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posted 4 years ago
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I have a small stand of oaks, which sprouted from a seed tree just over the neighbor's fence.  They have good water, a small cattle tank nearby catches any heavy rains, of which Texas gets a lot. The soil is about 2' deep black alkaline soil, Bolar Clay Loam to be precise, over a limestone base.  

I've already been in there a couple years ago and cut out the smaller ones.  Now it looks like this.  I wonder how I should thin further?  Are there any live oak experts out here?  How close can they stand to be together?  Clearly, this is too close for them to grow.
OakGrove.jpg
[Thumbnail for OakGrove.jpg]

Bolar clay loam ph 7.4 lightened with mulch, sand and sulfur. Caliche limestone 4-12" under that, so we build up deeper with retaining walls.
Agorist, Texas Master Gardener, 0-3 zone permaculture = from slippers to cattle.
https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/B/BOLAR.html

 
Michael Cox
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posted 4 years ago
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Some of them will be stunted, but the ones that grow tallest will continue to race for the light. Competition for light helps ensure straight timbers in forestry settings. I would suspect that a couple of winners will emerge in a year or so.

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Reno Husker
Posts: 69
Location: Burnet County TX zone 8a
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I'm inferring that you think just a couple Live Oaks will finally dominate that little grove?   I measured the breadth of that little stand and it's about 35' across and 10' deep at the max.

We have planted Red Oaks elsewhere and they are happy to be just 5 feet apart. In fact, the nursery recommended that for wind resistance. Amazing how the Red Oaks just shook off that freeze as if nothing happened, but many mature and young Live Oaks have died back considerably. We can't trim Live Oaks till August due to the dreaded wilt.

Thank you Sir

Bolar clay loam ph 7.4 lightened with mulch, sand and sulfur. Caliche limestone 4-12" under that, so we build up deeper with retaining walls.
Agorist, Texas Master Gardener, 0-3 zone permaculture = from slippers to cattle.
https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/B/BOLAR.html

 
Patrik Schumann
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Location: Nuevo Mexico, Alta California, New York, Andalucia
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posted 2 years ago
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If they're a group of stems from a single root system it's called a copse, and one way of managing them is known as coppice.  That means on a regular basis one can cut out one or more stems & the rest/ root will be freed/ stimulated to grow more.  

In New Mexico we have Gambel oak like these scattered across much upland woodland & in some places covering 00s of acres.  It's my preferred fuelwood & I usually just trawl through cutting out the dead, dying, diseased, malformed, over-shaded, out-competed.  It just gets better every time.  

best time to plant a tree was yesterday, next best is every day

 
Anne Miller
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posted 2 years ago
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I have a lot of oak trees, many of the are live oaks and scrub oaks.  I leave mother nature to take care of them.

Even though I am in Texas, my property doesn't get a lot of rain.  Every few years the area might flood though I am on top of a mountain and am not affected by flooding.

I have a lot of copses though I don't feel my trees would benefit from coppice.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

 
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