MAY 21 EDITION OF "ASK THE ARBORIST"

Now that the trees have leafed out we will examine some of the more difficult to identify forest trees.  As you venture out into the Newtown Forest Association preserves, be on the look-out for the Black Oak tree.  Black Oak Trees (Quercus velutina) are part of the Red Oak family.  Black Oaks generally reach a height of 80 ft and for the most part this tree is rarely found planted in local landscapes.  Considered a moderate growing tree Black Oaks require full sun and generally will be found as either dominant or codominant trees within the forest canopy.  According to the USDA Black Oak trees are some of the most drought tolerant trees around.  Black Oaks develop a very extensive vertical and horizontal surface root providing additional opportunity to capitalize on existing soil moisture even when soil moisture is low.  Black Oak Trees are also adaptive to alkaline soils with a Ph of 5.6 - 8.0 which is very unusual for an Oak Tree.  Black Oak trees reside comfortably within the USDA hardiness zones of 3 - 8 making it quite suitable to our Newtown , CT Zone 6A hardiness zone.  Black Oaks are often confused with Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea) another local tree that often resides with Black Oak in the forest.  The interesting identification characteristic of Black Oak is the orange cambium (the growing area of the tree) found just below the bark.  On a personal note during my college days (many years ago) I missed the Black Oak tree on my dendrology (tree identification) field final!  Yes that was over 30 years ago for me but I still remember someone drilling into the tree with a knife and Forester Jeff being one confused student.  I have vowed not to miss this tree again.  As always if your need your trees identified by a graduate Forester / Licensed Arborist call Jeff for your     FREE LOOK-UP FROM THE TRUNK-UP!   jeff@yackoandsons.com  203-733-9219