Last updated on July 3rd, 2021 at 03:25 pm
Shumard Red Oak information (Quercus shumardii). Most Oak trees are slow to moderate growing the Shumard Red Oak is one of the faster-growing oak trees. Turns a brilliant red-orange during the fall seasons it will drop its leaves once the winter season arrives.
Where to place the Shumard Red Oak?
A good tree for the southwest as it tolerates the hot southwestern sun. It is a good tree for shade, however, make sure to place where there is ample space for it to grow.
It will get much taller than the Texas Red Oak…it will grow to about 120ft. tall and 50-60ft. wide. Be sure to take that into consideration before placing this tree in your yard or landscape area. It may take 30-40 years before it reaches its natural height.
Once the tree becomes well-established it does become drought resistant. Typically around the 3-4 year after initial planting.
Problems with the Shumard Oak Tree
The Shumard Oak is a very hardy tree and not susceptible to diseases and insects throughout the southwest. But if the conditions are right it may develop Oaktree wilt. This is a fungal virus (Bretziella fagacearum) that attacks Oak trees in regions where there is lots of rainfall.
Read more about this disease on Wikipedia.
Aphids will on occasion attack this tree but this is rare and usually occurs when the tree is a seedling or recently planted. Spray with neem oil to kill aphids. Learn more about insects and diseases in this post, insects on plants.
I planted three 5′ tall, 1 inch caliper Shumard Oak trees two years ago. Clay soil. I have seen almost zero growth. At the same time and in the same area I also planted three similar-sized Live Oaks, which have grown about 2 feet. Any ideas why the Shumards are growing so slow?
Hello, Brian. It’s probably the clayish soil, the live oaks planted nearby may have been planted where the clay soil is not as deep. Yes, the soil can vary from one short distance to another. It’s common around this area.
Try incorporating some gypsum into your soil where the Shumard oaks have been planted. You can also use Helena’s 16-8-8 fertilizer as it contains some gypsum. The only problem with gypsum is that it will take a few years before you see good results. You might want to read this post on water smart plants there is a section on the clayish soil. Water Smart Plants.
Does the Shumard oak loose all of it leaves in the winter time?
Hi, Mike. Yes, the Shumard Oaktree will lose all of its leave in winter right about the end of October or early November. Actually, all Oaktrees will lose their leaves in winter. Except for the Live Oak, it will retain it leaves throughout the winter seasons. More about the live Oak here.