August Landscapes – Losing a native Oak in the Cross Timbers

[Sirhornsalot]

Losing a native Oak in the Cross Timbers
With residential and commercial development, Black Jack Oaks are disappearing in DFW

In North Texas, there is a region that has been historically known as the “Cross Timbers.” This area, which runs through the middle of Dallas/Ft Worth through Denton, Dallas and Tarrant Counties, extended a few hundred miles north and south. It was a region ttheshat featured thick tree population and even thicker underbrush, almost impassable according to early pioneers and Indian folklore.

Today, this region is slowly losing the native trees and underbrush due to the ever-growing metropolitan and suburban growth.

One of the trees that we’re slowly losing are the Black Jack Oaks (Quercus marilandica). These Oaks look wirey yet majestic, with thick trunks. They are hosts to a large number on insects and provide food and shade to wildlife. Their acorns are a deer’s favorite.

They grow to 50 feet high and 50 feet wide and have Fall color that is red. It can grow in the lousiest of soils but it well suited to dry, sandy or rocky soils. They thrive in challenging environments where other trees cannot and often grow in groves.

Since settlers arrived here in the 1800s, they’ve turned to Black Jack Oak firewood due to the fact that it burns hot and has a very pleasing smell.

As residential and commercial development continues, these Oaks are being removed and in their place, a variety of trees sold in nurseries are planted. Beautiful trees, sure. But some can be difficult to grow and even die in some cases because they have to adapt to our climate and soil. That would not be the case with the Black Jack Oak, if it were sold in nurseries. You could literally plant it in native soil and without planting mix.

While Black Jack Oaks won’t be found in nurseries in our region, you can order them online here https://www.nativeplantsokc.com/pro...6s9c4wMrxRYrSQNESQ4ceTUA2ClnlPxJsPW_Xx3epzDFyand here https://www.pinelandsnursery.com/quercus-marilandica-blackjack-oak-2-pot.



While some developers have been good about trying to keep some of these Oaks with the new homes they build, regular maintenance really prevents any saplings from emerging, further exasperating the problem.

Speaking with a nurseryman recently, I asked him why they do not stock or sell Black Jack Oaks. “Just not a demand for them for landscapes,” he said. “They grow slow and so many customers want a tree that’s going to mature before they leave or sell the home.”

While it is true they do grow slower than many trees, they also don’t require near as much care. Black Jack Oaks grow all over the country from Texas to the northeast and even as far north as Michigan.

I encourage anyone in our region to plant one of these and just let it grow!

THIS MONTH

1. During late June, we had our summer solstice, the equinox which brings us the longest day of the year. Since the winter solstice back in December, every day has become a little longer than the previous day – until the summer solstice. Since late June, each day has been a little shorter than the one before. This will continue until the winter solstice in December again.



By the end of August, our daylight hours will have decreased by 50 minutes.

That means less time to garden and landscape each day, but also means our days will become different. We will still reach 100 degrees many times in August. But the amount of time we spend at that temperature will decrease each day. That’s always good news.

2. Your late summer fertilization is due to happen this month. Apply your fertilizer anytime between Aug. 15 and the end of the first week of September. Since we’re going into Fall, reduce your ratio by one notch on your spreader to help fend off Fall lawn fungus.

Apply with a spreader and check the back of the product bag for the proper setting to use. Again, reduce by one notch. The reason I say this is because nitrogen helps produce the conditions for lawn fungus to form. So reducing the ratio slightly will help prevent fungus from appearing.

Make sure to not let your fertilizer cast into your landscape beds. Most bedding plants cannot handle the higher nitrogen of a lawn fertilizer. Best to hand toss the product when you’re close to beds.

3. At the end of this month, you should change your sprinkler system start time from night time watering to early morning watering. This also will help reduce the chances of lawn fungus in the fall. For watering during May through end of August should be done at night for the most effectiveness, that all changes at the end of this month. MAKE SURE you make the change. I suggest a 6 am start which gives the lawn all day to dry out before nightfall arrives.

4. Your next application of Pre-Emergent is due this month. This can be done anytime before the end of the month. There is no such thing as over doing this product. The more you apply, the more effective it will be (and last longer). You can apply to both lawn and beds to prevent weed seed germination.

DO NOT apply to your lawn if you intend to have winter rye grass. This product will prevent those seeds from germinating. Do not apply to your beds if you have any flowers you are growing by seeds.

5. Shrub trimming can be resumed toward the end of the month. We typically don’t want to trim shrubs during July and most of August due to the heat and possible leaf burn at the tops of the shrubs. It will be safe to trim again during the last week of the month and moving forward.
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