Transporting Live Oak Trees

[jtd498]

Wish i would have got this done in late fall....

However putting ten container grown live oaks in the ground this weekend (30 & 45 gallon).
I'll have them on trailer and driving interstate speeds for 2 hours between tree farm and final destination.
Question: Do I need to wrap them during transport?

Owner of the tree farm said whatever leaves are gonna fall off will fall during the move / planting regardless of wrapping; he said not wrapping would be fine.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

[JLivi1224]

Paging Anvilheadtx

If you want to Pm him I’m sure he can help.

[150class]

Would recommend laying them at a angle and tarping them. Will significantly decrease the windburn during transportation.

[Hart8]

Not a big deal unless it's hot as hell..Where are you taking them to? I wouldn't plant a live oak in Texas for nothing.Oak wilt is killing them by the millions in the hill country.

Sent from my SM-G970U1 using Tapatalk

[RifleBowPistol]

I would not worry too much about it, live oak are about the toughest trees out there. Covering them would be a good idea, but probably not needed. The live oaks down in Rockport, Fulton and northwards, too over 140 mph winds, lost all of their leaves and are fine. We went through many hurricanes on the coast, most of those hurricanes had winds in the upper 80 mph to maybe 110 mph, during those storms the oaks would loose leaves by still have most of their leaves.
I lived on the coast and in the hill country, now just out side the hill country, there are live oaks all over those areas I have lived and they are mostly all doing fine. Live oaks are different from any other tree I know of, they keep their leaves through the winter, then drop them in the spring, then immediately start blooming. So if they loose any leaves while getting transported right now, till April, they will start growing them back in April.

I have seen live oaks for sale many times lately, the reason I have not bought any, is they grow very slow and I would like to enjoy the trees we plant, as large trees in the next 10 to 15 years. Live oaks are just toddlers at that point. They will be big mature trees 100 to 200 years after you plant them and still growing 1000 years later. I don't think we will live that long. So I am trying to find faster growing trees, even though I have grown up around live oaks almost all of my life. We planted five pecans of various types over a year ago. They obviously are not going to grow very fast either. I am liking our peach trees the most at this point, they produce fruit the first year and grow fast, every year we should see peaches on them. Hopefully this year, I can keep the dang squirrels away from them. I plan on planting pines out front, it seems there are some naturally growing pines in the area, just a half mile down the road. Those should grow fast and being evergreens, they will block the view of the road year round.

[Anvilheadtexas]

We use netting over the top of our Live Oaks when transporting on trailers. I have always been told plastic is not good for the trees if it gets too hot, but you might be OK this time of the year. If you don’t put anything over them and you drive two hours there won’t be a leaf left on the trees. whether or not that kills the trees is up for debate but do you really want to plant your brand new Live Oak trees and have them look leafless ????

Here is a picture of how we transport our Live Oak trees right before we put the nets over the entire tree . Laying them down like that minimalizes the loss of leaves. By the way if anybody needs 30 gallon Live Oak trees hit me up! Thank you Justiin for the plug !

[jtd498]

That's what I wanted to hear; thanks for the input.

Anvilheadtexas.... I agree; not going for the leafless look. I will cover / wrap.

[Sackett]

Go to Northern Tool and buy a 10x20" Mesh Tarp (will be black). Take a long strap and after the trees are laid over like "Anvilheads" photo, wrap them all together tightly. Then cover with the black mesh Tarp and cross the back ends up under the trees for additional protection.

Sure, you can do without tarping them and they'll leaf out, but it's better to let them decide when they molt.

[Anvilheadtexas]

Also... get the trees planted as soon as possible it’s amazing how quick they dry out in the buckets if they’re not on a watering system! Our Live Oak’s are also starting to show tiny buds so they’re going to wake up very soon !

[jaspermac]

All good info here. Also, don’t put a rope over the truck because it will rub a spot on the bark and may get into the cambium. Water a lot when you get to destination

[Els16]

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[Dirtymike]

We use netting over the top of our Live Oaks when transporting on trailers. I have always been told plastic is not good for the trees if it gets too hot, but you might be OK this time of the year. If you don’t put anything over them and you drive two hours there won’t be a leaf left on the trees. whether or not that kills the trees is up for debate but do you really want to plant your brand new Live Oak trees and have them look leafless ????

Here is a picture of how we transport our Live Oak trees right before we put the nets over the entire tree . Laying them down like that minimalizes the loss of leaves. By the way if anybody needs 30 gallon Live Oak trees hit me up! Thank you Justiin for the plug !

[ATTACH]992587[/ATTACH]

This, you can buy the netting or sunscreen. I would never haul them without.