"Large streams from little fountains flow, Tall oaks from little acorns grow."
― D Everett, The Columbian Orator, 1797
― D Everett, The Columbian Orator, 1797
PHOTO: Mark Hirsch, Bur oak that inspired 'That Tree' iPhone photo project ― http://thattree.net/
Trees are a necessity for the human soul. Trees give us health, beauty and cool respite. They give us a sense of place and they teach us about the passage of time. If we were wise, we would plant many more trees than we do, for every newly-planted tree contributes to the renewal of our shared landscape.
I learned to love trees first from my mother and later from the foresters I've come to know in Northwestern Ontario. The passion of tree developers like Rick Durand of Bylands Nursery in BC have also inspired me to value trees. A well-tended tree may well grow to be the soul of a garden.
Lest you think this will be a wholly poetic post, let's shift gears and talk about trees that can withstand the harsh weather of a northern garden. Happily, there are many species that will give us shade, form and privacy.
I learned to love trees first from my mother and later from the foresters I've come to know in Northwestern Ontario. The passion of tree developers like Rick Durand of Bylands Nursery in BC have also inspired me to value trees. A well-tended tree may well grow to be the soul of a garden.
Lest you think this will be a wholly poetic post, let's shift gears and talk about trees that can withstand the harsh weather of a northern garden. Happily, there are many species that will give us shade, form and privacy.
Young bur oak growing in an open setting, Calgary One of my favorite trees is bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa). It is pictured above in its happiest setting – growing out in the open in a grassy space, which is the modern equivalent of its natural prairie habitat.
Could you grow a bur oak in your yard? Absolutely! As a specimen tree that gives shade and character in the urban landscape, I think it is a fine choice.
Bur oak (also spelled burr oak) is a small to medium sized deciduous tree that can grow 15 to 20 m (50 to 65 ft) tall. It is considered a slow-growing tree, but once established it will adapt to dry and moist conditions. As the Manitoba Forestry Association explain in the Think Trees seedling catalogue, "A deep & wide-spreading root system with a strong taproot makes this species drought-tolerant." This makes bur oak a good choice if you are establishing a moisture-conserving landscape.
Remember that 'sense of place' I mentioned? Bur oak is very long-lived, surviving up to 200 years, given care and good growing conditions. There is no doubt a bur oak is a heritage tree worth planting for future generations.
Could you grow a bur oak in your yard? Absolutely! As a specimen tree that gives shade and character in the urban landscape, I think it is a fine choice.
Bur oak (also spelled burr oak) is a small to medium sized deciduous tree that can grow 15 to 20 m (50 to 65 ft) tall. It is considered a slow-growing tree, but once established it will adapt to dry and moist conditions. As the Manitoba Forestry Association explain in the Think Trees seedling catalogue, "A deep & wide-spreading root system with a strong taproot makes this species drought-tolerant." This makes bur oak a good choice if you are establishing a moisture-conserving landscape.
Remember that 'sense of place' I mentioned? Bur oak is very long-lived, surviving up to 200 years, given care and good growing conditions. There is no doubt a bur oak is a heritage tree worth planting for future generations.
| Oaks are divided into two groups: red and white, based largely on the appearance of the leaves and acorns. Bur oak belongs to the white oak family with the characteristic lobed leaf shape. The leaves have a paler underside that is covered with short fine hairs. Leaves turn a tawny brown in fall. Like other white oaks, the acorns of the bur oak mature in one year. In fact, it's the bur oak acorn that is especially distinctive. The fringed acorn caps give this tree its other name – mossy-cup oak.  Bur oak is noted for its heavily fringed acorn cups We planted a bur oak some years ago. Now, about five years on, it is developing the gnarly branches that give this tree its character. |  Bright green leaves have deep rounded lobes  Gnarly branches |
In a brief paper by Mary Ann Riley (Kemptville College), I learned that "bur oak grows best on deep, dry, rich bottom lands. Its preference is for well drained sandy or clay loam soils. It also occurs on upland limestone soils and at the northern limits of its range, on shallow soil over granite bedrock. Trees may be stunted on exposed shallow soils." Now this sounds like northern Ontario, doesn't it? We count on tenacious trees, even if they do get gnarly.
So let's summarize ...
So let's summarize ...
Bur Oak
| Size: 15 to 30 m tall, trunk 60-120 cm diam Moisture: Tolerates a wide variety of moisture conditions Exposure: Prefers full sun, but can tolerate moderate shade Soil: Can grow in a variety of soils Form: Short trunk with a wide crown when open grown Bark: Thick, dark grey bark, deeply furrowed Zone: 2b |  |
As we step towards Arbor Week, why not think about trees. Maybe a bur oak is the tree for your yard. Now – while trees are dormant – is the best time to plant. Where could you plant a tree?
Want to learn more?
For reliable tree planting tips check out the Ministry of Natural Resources' Climate Change pages.
Read more about 'That Tree' iPhone Photo Project
Photo credits:
Open grown specimen, Calgary - Flora and Fauna [blog]
Leaves, acorns, branches - Peter M. Dziuk at Minnesota Wildflowers
Fall leaves - The Dirt Doctor
For reliable tree planting tips check out the Ministry of Natural Resources' Climate Change pages.
Read more about 'That Tree' iPhone Photo Project
Photo credits:
Open grown specimen, Calgary - Flora and Fauna [blog]
Leaves, acorns, branches - Peter M. Dziuk at Minnesota Wildflowers
Fall leaves - The Dirt Doctor
