Just bought a new property and looking to purchase a couple live oaks. Trying to get the most bang for my buck and willing to spend some money if needed. What is a reasonable price/ft. height?

Fully understand that it will take years for them to mature into something special, just trying to get as much of a head start as possible

Started looking today at Moon Valley Nurseries but want to get some other options to see where they fall.

Any help or guidance is greatly appreciated

Smaller trees will out grow big transplants.

That's all I got. It will save you some money.

I agree with fightingfarmer09. A large tree will just sit there for several years before it gets established.

I planted two live oaks from acorns and they caught up with some 5 gallon ones in just a few years.

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Smaller trees will out grow big transplants.

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Does this apply in all soils?

Wondering if thin, rocky, limestone soils are one place where buying size might play out for a win over time? Given how slowly trees grow in those conditions.

I'm growing my own for when we purchase some property/homesite early next year. I've got clones of the original Auburn oaks that were poisoned in my backyard that I've been collecting acorns from. The clones I have are 8 now and they've grown pretty quickly since I transplanted them 3 years ago

I'll probably also purchase a Century Oak seedling from Aggie Century Tree Project a little more pricey than buying elsewhere but supports scholarships and I like that.

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Fully understand that it will take years for them to mature into something special, just trying to get as much of a head start as possible

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Smaller trees will eventually catch up & outgrow the larger trees you purchase, usually within 5 years. The larger trees will spend the first several years growing a root system to catch up with their crown.

I'd also recommend you plant something other than a Live Oak... maybe a Cedar Elm, Chinquapin or Monterrey Oak. Lots of risk of Oak Wilt with Lives & they are way overplanted. Look no farther than A&M's campus to see what Oak Wilt & overplanting of one species will lead to. JMO.

This.

Oak wilt hit our property and have spent the last year removing dead trees. Looking to replant with mixture of cedar elms, Monterey oaks & white oaks.

What everyone else said about small trees. It's tough to wait, but a well watered oak will take off like a rocket once it has a head of steam. Well, at least certainly so in sandy soils (my experience)

Also, if you do plant any larger trees, make sure whoever sets them out knows what they are doing. I planted some years ago and some took off while others lingered. I had an arborist out recently and she pointed to the way they were set, specifically that they were too deep and brace roots were buried. We are working to remedy that and hopefully they'll catch up to the others.

Not sure if true but I have heard that trees from the nursey have some sort of coating on the pot that stunts the roots so they dont grow around in circles. With all the comments above I feel like this may be true. I've planted 7 trees from nurseries 9-10 years ago that are pretty much the same size as the seedlings I sprouted and planted my self 6-7 years ago. Out of the 7 nursery trees, we finally had one that really took off and grew this year.......the others I expect to be passed up next year.

ought1ag said:

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Not sure if true but I have heard that trees from the nursey have some sort of coating on the pot that stunts the roots so they dont grow around in circles. With all the comments above I feel like this may be true. I've planted 7 trees from nurseries 9-10 years ago that are pretty much the same size as the seedlings I sprouted and planted my self 6-7 years ago. Out of the 7 nursery trees, we finally had one that really took off and grew this year.......the others I expect to be passed up next year.

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I'm not sure what nurseries do or don't do, but these root maker systems are pretty good.

Aggie Century Tree Project introduced me to these and it works very well in creating healthy roots.

https://rootmaker.com/rootmaker-system

Don't plant them in a straight line.

jdc98 said:

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This.

Oak wilt hit our property and have spent the last year removing dead trees. Looking to replant with mixture of cedar elms, Monterey oaks & white oaks.

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Any thoughts on how the Monterrey Oaks do in thin rocky soils like are our around Boerne?

Moon Valley is crazy expensive. I can't believe what they charge for trees and shrubs.

Do you have any others you'd recommend?

Appreciate the help!

they aren't large trees, but as others have stated...bigger isnt always better. And cant beat the price!

https://www.keepbrazosbeautiful.org/treesale/

where are you located?

I would pass on Cedar Elm.

JAW3336 said:

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where are you located?

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That's my question too?
The produce stand by Dixie Oil Co. has some really nice 5 gallon Oaks that stand about 5" tall for $15.00 which is not bad.