Which Oak Trees to Add to Your Landscape | NatureHills.com

Hey guys, it’s Whit with Nature Hills.com. With summer finally here, having a shade tree can make or break your backyard experience. It’s hot out there folks - shade really helps, and oak trees give some of the best shade - plus once they’re established they grow a lot faster than you might think. In all, there are about 400 different species of Oaks.

Now, with that many options, you’re probably thinking, what oaks are right for my yard? No need to worry, we’ve got 5 of our favorite options to help narrow your search.

5 Streetspire Oak Tree
This gorgeous cultivar is a modern take on a landscape classic. Its striking feature is the upward growth of its branches that keep it tall and slim. Both of these make it a great tree for planting next to streets (hence its name). It has lush green leaves in the summer and bright orange in the fall that can add dimension to any landscape. Wildlife also enjoy this tree so keep an eye out for your favorite birds! 5 Streetspire Oak Tree - Growing Zones 4-8, Full Sun, and grows up to 40-45 Feet.
Learn More: https://www.naturehills.com/streetspi...

4 Southern Live Oak Tree
The Southern Live Oak Tree is stunning and one of my favorites (but you’ll want to make sure you’ve got enough space if you want to plant it. This tree has an average height of 50-80 feet and a spread up to 90 feet! That’s huge! Its deep green leaves are glossy and often stay with the tree all year long in those southern climates. There’s no better tree to make a bold statement if your landscape for many, many, years to come. 4 Southern Live Oak Tree, Growing Zones 8-10, Very Long-Lived, Green Foliage Year Round and Perfect for Large Properties.
Learn More: https://www.naturehills.com/southern-...

3 Shumard Oak Tree
The Shumard Oak Tree is a beautiful tree that has branches that arch outward making it ideal to shade your backyard during the hot summer months. The glossy green leaves stay bright all summer and turn a brilliant orange-red in the fall to perfectly complement the season! And, if you’re a wildlife aficionado, you’ll be delighted to know Shumard makes a fantastic home for the local birds, pollinators, and animals. Use as an accent tree or even plant several together in a naturalized grouping. 3 Shumard Oak Tree, Growing Zones 5-9, Fast-Growing, Fantastic Fall Color and gets 40-60 feet tall and 30-40 feet wide.
Learn More: https://www.naturehills.com/shumard-oak

2 Swamp White Oak Tree
The Swamp White Oak Tree is a low-maintenance native tree that can live for hundreds of years. Along with the lush two-toned leathery green leaves that fill out the canopy, it offers interesting peeling bark along the trunk. The tops of the leaves are dark green with the bottom having light gray-green foliage. When the sun hits them just right the tree looks like they’re shimmering! In the fall the leaves turn golden before falling away for the winter. Growing 50-60 feet tall and wide, Swamp White Oak makes a symmetrical and stately addition to the landscape. 2 Swamp White Oak Tree, Growing Zones 4-8, Two-Toned Leaves that shimmer in the sun and are a Fast-Growing Oak Tree.
Learn More: https://www.naturehills.com/swamp-whi...

1 Bur Oak Tree
I saved the best for last and the best has to be Bur Oak. The others grow tall but Bur takes it to a whole other level reaching as high AND WIDE as 100 feet! This native tree has a wide-spreading crown and large, leathery, glossy green leaves that turn golden in the fall. Bur provides branches for bird nests, acorns for the critters, and leaves each winter for the pollinators to use as shelter! Plus, with a lifespan of up to 400 years, odds are you won’t have to worry about replacing it anytime soon. 1 Bur Oak Tree - Growing Zones 3-8, Enormous Native tree, wide canopy for plenty of shade, and Very Low Maintenance.
Learn More: https://www.naturehills.com/bur-oak

Oaks make extraordinary shade trees for your landscape. Which one’s calling your name? Let me know down in the comments.

With many oak tree options being native, their care is pretty straightforward. But if you’re looking for a little more guidance during your tree-choosing journey, head on over to our #ProPlantTips blog. We’ve got articles on more tree options along with planting instructions.

https://www.naturehills.com/blog

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And until next time, happy planting!