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As Michiganders, we’re fortunate to live in a state that’s virtually covered in gorgeous oak trees. There are not only a number of species native to our state, but also several exotic oak species that thrive in our region. But if you want to keep the oaks on your property healthy and safe, you need to give your trees the kind of care they require.
We’ll try to help in this regard by providing some basic information about Michigan’s oak trees below. We’ll outline the species that grow well here, share some of the most important care tips you’ll want to employ, and point out some of the most common pests and pathogens that threaten them.
Michigan’s Oak Tree Species
You may see a number of different oak species growing on Michigan properties, including native and exotic species. We’ll outline both groups separately to help better familiarize yourself with some of the ones you’re most likely to see.
Native Michigan Oak Species
Roughly 10 oak species are native to Michigan and can be found growing throughout various portions of the state. Having adapted to our region’s climate and soil characteristics over the millennia, these species will usually thrive in our area (when planted in suitable locations).
- White Oak (Quercus alba): The quintessential Midwestern hardwood, the white oak is prized for its long lifespan and has rounded lobes that make it easy to identify.
- Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor): Because it is native to low and wet areas, the swamp white oak tolerates heavy suburban soils better than many other trees.
- Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa): Easily identified by its huge acorns with fringed caps, the bur oak is capable of reaching 100 feet in height.
- Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii): A broad, wide-canopied white oak with chestnut-like leaves, the chinkapin oak makes a tough but attractive shade tree.
- Post Oak (Quercus stellata): The post oak is adapted to dry, rocky soils, which make this tree ideal for upland sites with relatively poor soil quality.
- Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra): One of the fastest-growing red oaks, the northern red oak is widely planted in urban areas and prized for its gorgeous fall color.
- Black Oak (Quercus velutina): The black oak is a sun-loving tree that thrives on dry, sandy ridges in the wild but can unfortunately suffer stress in urban areas.
- Pin Oak (Quercus palustris): A popular street tree with an instantly recognizable silhouette, the pin oak may struggle in areas with alkaline soils.
- Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea): With perhaps the best fall foliage of any oak, this medium-sized tree grows best on dry, sandy soils.
- Northern Pin Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis): Closely related to the scarlet oak, the northern pin oak produces a very rounded crown and elliptical acorns.
Common Non-Native Oak Species in Michigan
Though they’re not native to Michigan, the following trees also tend to thrive in our state.
- English Oak (Quercus robur): A classic European species planted ornamentally in Michigan, the English oak has short-stalked leaves and long-stalked acorns.
- Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii): A large bottomland red oak common in the Southeast and lower Midwest, the Shumard oak adapts well to urban sites.
- Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima): An Asian oak widely planted in the Midwest, the sawtooth oak can be identified by noting its long, serrated leaves with bristle tips.
- Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata): A white oak that typically grows in floodplains, the overcup oak is named for its acorns, which are almost completely enclosed by the cup.
How to Care for Your Oak Trees: A Michigan Homeowner’s Guide
While most oaks are hardy trees that will thrive when planted in a good location, there are several things that homeowners and property managers can do to give them the best chance of thriving.
Among other things, this includes:
- Planting the right tree in the right space. Choosing the right tree for the space you have available is one of the best ways to set yourself (and your tree) up for success. This means not only choosing a tree that’ll fit in the space you have available but also picking one that’ll thrive in the sun exposure, moisture level, and soil chemistry that characterize the spot.
- Mulching your trees properly. Adding a 2- to 4-inch-thick layer of organic mulch over your tree’s root system will help moderate the soil temperatures, retain more moisture, and protect the roots from damage. Just be sure that you don’t pile mulch up against the tree’s trunk, as this will likely trap moisture, which will lead to decay.
- Protecting your trees from damage. It’s important to understand that trees do not “heal” in the same way animals do; they simply seal up damaged areas (a process called compartmentalization) and build around them. The damaged portions will always remain present. So, always do whatever you can to prevent your trees from being damaged by mowers, vehicles, or pests.
- Providing additional water when appropriate. Most mature, well-established oaks are quite drought tolerant, but young and recently transplanted trees often require supplemental water. Just remember that different oak species have different moisture requirements, so be sure to consider the species you are caring for when deciding how much water to provide.
- Applying fertilizer when needed. Urban and suburban lots often have very low-quality soil, which can leave the nearby trees struggling to grow properly or survive. Accordingly, it’s a good idea to have soil samples analyzed regularly, so that you can select and apply a fertilizer that’ll address the specific deficiencies your trees are having to deal with.
- Monitoring your trees carefully. It’s always important to look at your trees (from roots to the tips of the branches) regularly and note any troubling signs, such as crown dieback, mushrooms growing from the soil, or changes in the angle at which a tree leans. If you notice any problems, contact a certified arborist immediately to have an assessment carried out.
Trimming Oak Trees in Michigan
Pruning your oak trees is an important task that can help keep your trees healthy and — most importantly — safe.
Young oaks will typically benefit from structural pruning, which seeks to promote good tree architecture and crown balance. This is usually carried out when a tree is between 3 and 10 years of age, and when done correctly, it sets the tree up to thrive over the long term.
At the other end of the spectrum, older oaks may need to be pruned to remove damaged, diseased, or otherwise hazardous branches.
However, it is almost always preferable (and in some cases necessary), to have a professional arborist carry out the pruning work you need. Structurally pruning young oaks requires quite a bit of skill and experience, while pruning large oaks is simply too dangerous to be a suitable DIY project (save for the removal of very small branches that are accessible from ground level).
It’s also important to note that some pruning activities should only be carried out at specific times of the year. For example, oaks should never be pruned in the spring or summer, as the fresh cuts often attract beetles that can spread oak wilt disease (discussed below). Instead, oaks should usually be pruned in the dormant season.
This is part of the reason it is important to form a relationship with a high-quality tree-service provider who can prune your oaks and keep them healthy.
Common Oak Tree Problems in Michigan
Unfortunately, there are a number of pests and pathogens that can affect oak trees growing in Michigan. The best way to protect your trees from these dangers is to support your trees’ health proactively so that they can protect themselves.
However, you’ll also want to monitor your trees for signs that may indicate any of the following ailments:
Oak Wilt
Oak wilt is one of the most serious threats to oak trees in the eastern and central U.S. Known to arborists as Bretziella fagacearum, this fungal disease spreads rapidly through both root grafts and sap beetle activity.
Infected red oaks typically die within weeks, often showing symptoms like wilting, bronzing, and rapid leaf drop. White oaks tend to be more resistant, while red oaks can die in a matter of weeks.
Anthracnose
Anthracnose (Apiognomonia quercina) is a fungal leaf disease that affects many oak species but is most problematic for white oaks. It typically appears during cool, wet springs and leads to browning, curling, and early leaf drop.
While unsightly, anthracnose rarely kills mature trees and is generally considered a cosmetic issue in healthy oaks. However, repeated infections can stress trees and lead to their decline.
Bacterial Leaf Scorch
Bacterial leaf scorch is a systemic disease that slowly kills oak trees by blocking water movement through the xylem (wood) tissue. Known to arborists as Xylella fastidiosa, it causes irregular leaf browning, beginning at the edges and moving inward.
The symptoms typically worsen each year, eventually spreading through the entire crown.
Armillaria Root Rot
Armillaria root rot is a fungal disease that causes wood decay and root failure in many hardwoods, including oaks. Caused by a group of fungi in the genus Armillaria, this disease usually attacks stressed or wounded trees.
Symptoms include crown thinning, dieback, white fungal mats under bark, and honey-colored mushrooms near the base. Because it attacks a tree’s roots, this disease represents a significant safety hazard.
Hypoxylon Canker
Hypoxylon canker is an opportunistic fungal disease that colonizes stressed or weakened oaks. The causal agent, Hypoxylon atropunctatum, typically lurks quietly inside a tree until it becomes stressed by drought or injury.
Once active, hypoxylon produces silver-gray or black crusty patches on exposed wood, internal decay, and crown dieback.
Two-Lined Chestnut Borer
The two-lined chestnut borer (Agrilus bilineatus) is a native beetle that preys on stressed trees in the red oak group. The insect’s larvae bore into the cambium layer of the tree, disrupting nutrient flow and causing progressive canopy dieback.
Infestations often start at the top of the crown and move downward, and they often cause the tree to produce epicormic shoots from the trunk or main stems. This can cause some trees to decline very suddenly.
Spongy Moth
Formerly known as the gypsy moth, spongy moth caterpillars (Lymantria dispar) defoliate trees during the spring. While not typically fatal in isolation, repeated defoliation weakens trees and can lead to death, especially when the tree also suffers from drought stress.
Integrated pest management — a type of plant health care that can include biological controls and aerial spraying — is the most effective control strategy for battling these pests.
Signs Your Oak Tree May Require Removal
In some cases, oaks may suffer from problems that are so serious that complete removal may be required. Only a certified arborist can determine for certain whether your oak needs to be removed or if other corrective actions will suffice, but the following signs warrant a detailed assessment.
- Large Hollows: Large hollows can make trees unstable and make them susceptible to collapse.
- Significant Cracks: Cracks demonstrate that your tree is already compromised and may require removal.
- Mounding Soil: Soil that lifts up near the trunk is often a sign that the tree is about to fall over.
- Mushrooms or Conks: Mushrooms and conks indicate internal fungal activity and potential decay.
- Sudden Lean: Trees that begin leaning suddenly are almost always an emergency requiring immediate action.
- Crown Dieback: Crown dieback doesn’t always indicate removal is required, but assessment certainly is.
- Poor Taper: Trees that don’t taper properly are susceptible to windthrow in severe weather.
Longtree Tree Service: Caring for Oak Trees in Southfield, MI
While oaks are susceptible to a few problems, they remain fantastic additions to most Michigan properties. Just be sure to get them the professional care they require from your friends at Longtree Tree Service. From installation to pruning to plant health care, we can take care of all your oak tree needs — even emergency removal and stump grinding if you unfortunately lose one suddenly.
Contact us today to schedule your free onsite consultation. We’re ready and waiting!
