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Bur Oak in hurricane prone areas
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Posted by alabamatreehugger 8b Atmore,AL (My Page) on Thu, Nov 19, 09 at 11:43
| I'd like to know if any of you along the Texas coast have observed how well Bur Oak holds up to hurricane winds? I know they have a very deep root system, but I know they also have very big leaves that would catch a lot of wind (the small leaves of Live Oak combined with deep roots get a lot of credit for wind resistance).
My small ones are the only ones I know of around here, so I can't make a comparison to other types of oaks. Bur Oak doesn't seem to be included in any of the studies out there. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Bur Oak in hurricane prone areas
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| If it has relatively low heavy branches to lower center of gravity, it probably would do fine but I'd be more worried about those golf ball sized acorns being used as bullets going 150 MPH... |
RE: Bur Oak in hurricane prone areas
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| LOL, true there. They may be like big hail stones. ;) |
RE: Bur Oak in hurricane prone areas
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| "Bur Oak doesn't seem to be included in any of the studies out there" Presumably because it isn't native anywhere in the hurricane-prone areas. Its native range avoids the Gulf and Atlantic coastal regions completely. Does that mean anything, or not?? I don't know! Resin |
RE: Bur Oak in hurricane prone areas
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| While Bur Oak has perhaps the most extensive root system of any oak out in the mid-west and other dry areas, it doesn't seem like it would maintain that high root to limb ratio if moisture was plentiful. The root grows first characteristic that makes it so successful in drier areas would seem to be a drawback if it still held in moister areas as the other trees would out-compete it for sunshine. Does anyone know how it compares when grown east of Mississippi? |
RE: Bur Oak in hurricane prone areas
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| Resin, the USDA map shows Bur Oak native all the way down to the Corpus Christi area, whether that's correct or not I don't know ;) Scotjute, I was thinking that same thing about the roots. I've noticed lots of trees growing on heavy clay with a high water table seem to have a pancake type root system. I have really noticed this with Southern Magnolia, in sandy soil the roots go very deep, however in heavy clay they tend to stay at the surface and spread far out. |
Here is a link that might be useful: USDA map
RE: Bur Oak in hurricane prone areas
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| It does not go all the way to the coast. That map is a little off. |
RE: Bur Oak in hurricane prone areas
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| you said: My small ones are the only ones I know of around here ============== and perhaps that is because hurricanes for the last 100 years have destroyed the rest???? try a a call the the closest arboretum.. or texas state forestry school .... the county extension.. or the county Ag office ... ken |
RE: Bur Oak in hurricane prone areas
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| I know of a large bur oak in Houston where my mom's neighborhood is. I think it's still alive after multiple of hurricanes and tropical storms. |
RE: Bur Oak in hurricane prone areas
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| Living about 6 miles from the central Louisiana coast line at 5 foot elevation, I have lost several trees to multiple hurricanes. No tree is hurricane proof. Slash pines just blow over, I even had a bald cypress topped off. Lost a swamp red maple and southern magnolia to salt water storm surge. Never had any real damage to my live oak, green ash, river birch, lacebark elm, and even the water oak and weeping willow had nothing more than missing leaves. |
RE: Bur Oak in hurricane prone areas
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| ^^ From my experience Water Oak is one of the worst when mature (along with Laurel Oak). Shallow roots, weak wood, and a huge crown is a bad combo. I lost many Red Maples too, the bigger ones uproot and the smaller ones bend over. Live Oak, Southern Magnolia, and Bald Cypress are the most tolerant ones (in my opinion). I'm far enough inland that I don't have to deal with the surge. |
RE: Bur Oak in hurricane prone areas
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Without a doubt a water oak can be death trap, especially in decline. Good thing the closest tree is more than 120ft away, and it is about 16 years old.
The only bald cypress that failed was the most open grown, all the trees in groups did much better. The southern magnolia was only about 6ft tall and there was 3 feet of salt water for Rita, the other smaller one about 5ft at the time did fine. Had almost the same surge again from Ike and didn't lose any trees. |
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