Oak ID??

[eyeinstine]

Can someone ID this little oak for me?? I'm thinking it s a Red oak..

It spring up on its own in the flower bed last year, and i just moved it last week to a new temporary spot until i figure whatto do with it.. Kinda a fun little project i guess.
If i was to keep it, what would be the suggest prune to do to it?? It looks like a double leader??

Thanks
Ron

 

[Newfie]

From the leaves I'd say it's a pin oak, which in the logging/lumber market will often be merchandised as red oak.

 

[texasnative]

Definitely a red oak, but there are many species that are red oaks.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Red Oak.

 

[eyeinstine]

then i guess my Red oak speculation was correct. Guess i have to wait some years until it matures more to find out exactly what kind of red oak it is..??

So what do you guys think of saving this little fella?? Is it worth while?? If so, what do you recommend to start shaping it???
It looks like the right side leader is smaller, and should be removed?? Also, the single branch down lower probably needs to go?? Maybe take the lower branch now, and then in the winter take the smaller leader off??
Or just let it be and wait and see, and then prune if needed??

Thanks
Ron

 

[jason j ladue]

looks too close to the buliding. that tree will want more room for spreading out roots and limbs

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

then i guess my Red oak speculation was correct. Guess i have to wait some years until it matures more to find out exactly what kind of red oak it is..??

There's an old saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Look around, what kind of Oaks are growing?
My Guess, Northern Red Oak, Quercus rubra. That's what we have around here.

So what do you guys think of saving this little fella?? Is it worth while?? If so, what do you recommend to start shaping it???
It looks like the right side leader is smaller, and should be removed?? Also, the single branch down lower probably needs to go?? Maybe take the lower branch now, and then in the winter take the smaller leader off??
Or just let it be and wait and see, and then prune if needed??

Thanks
Ron

You might want to move it. Oaks are notoriously hard to move. A tree that size already needs a big root ball.
I wouldn't cut any thing at all. If the co-dominant stems continue, just nip one or two inches off one side.

 

[Newfie]

Red oak has a much broader leaf, w/ less segmentation of the lobes. My vote is still for northern pin oak.

 

[eyeinstine]

Hi fellas,
thanks for the responses so far.

Funny thing is, i cant find any other oaks near by! There is a couple of white oaks about 400 feet away back in the woods. But there is one very large about 600 feet away in a neighbors rear yard. I never took notice to it or its leaves to see what it is.. I'll have to check that oak. I have not seen any pin oaks around, though i first thought that that is what this tree is. I grew up with a large pin oak in the front yard, and the leaves on this one remind me alot of those leaves.

Yup, the tree was definitly too close to the house. I didnt plant it there, it just sprang up on its own. The reason i'm trying to save it and do something with it is that theres a story behind it..
Last year on May 4, i got a phone call in the early morning. One of our buddies in our circle of friends was in the hospital on life support, and if we wanted to see him, we needed to ge tthere ASAP as he wounldnt be with us much longer. So while hurrying out the door, i happened to notice this little oak sprouting up; it reminded my of our friend. He was one of those gentle giants. Tall, broad, strong, just a big ox. He was the only guy i know that could get away with wearing a comboy hat and boots everyday here in NJ. And he loved to sing country music. He took the mic and sang a George Straight song at our wedding, and i didnt realize it was him until he was almost done. I just thought the DJ played the song.
The really sad part is he was only 32 and had a stroke. He was married exactly one month to the day before he died. He wife received the wedding picture package the day after he died. I have never seen someone so truamitized, as understandibly, as his wife. No funerals are good, but this one was real bad. But a great tribute to him, as he was a chief of the fire co., worked for the PW dept, and had many friends. It was a town wide event.

But anyway, the strong young oak tree reminds me of him, so i'm trying to put it to use in the yard.

I have already moved it about 10 days ago to another temporary spot. It appears to be doing fine. I used a backhoe with a 24" bucket in one big scoop. I'm sure i got 99% of the roots and dirt.

We are in the middle of a large landscape project, so i do need to move it again.. Probably in the fall. If i could just figure out for sure what it is, i would have a better idea of the proper spot to put it, to account for its future size and growth needs.

So i should just leave it alone and not trim or prune anything yet?? I was really concerned with the 'Y" and the looks of two leaders going.??

Thanks again!
Ron

 

[jason j ladue]

oh! my bad. for some reason i thought you had put it there. mis-read your initial post...pretty cool story about the little fella and your friend. seems to me like it should be left be /not pruned until you find a permanent spot.