Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
The Best Oak Trees for a Small Yard
The Best Oak Trees for a Small Yard. Oak trees epitomize the perfect shade tree,with interesting leaves and a lovely form. While slow growing, they may live for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, most varieties reach 80 to 100 feet, or more, making them a poor choice for urban landscapes. When selecting oaks, consider their growing needs, as well as...
Oak trees epitomize the perfect shade tree,with interesting leaves and a lovely form. While slow growing, they may live for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, most varieties reach 80 to 100 feet, or more, making them a poor choice for urban landscapes. When selecting oaks, consider their growing needs, as well as their mature size. Many oaks, such as pin oak, suffer from chlorosis when planted in alkaline soils, according to Iowa State University's Reiman Gardens. For best results, consider species native to your area.
Blackjack Oak
Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) tolerates dry, sandy soils and reaches 20 to 50 feet high. This tree has leathery leaves that grow to 7 inches long and have an unusual triangular shape. The leaves are broadest at the tips. Blackjack oaks often have a contorted shape, resembling a shrub, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
Dwarf Chinkapin
The dwarf chinkapin (Quercus prinoides) has elongated, oval leaves, with coarse teeth. This tree resembles a chestnut tree more than an oak, and grows well in alkaline, dry soils. It rarely grows more than 10 to 12 feet high, so consider it a shrub, advises Iowa State University's Reiman Gardens.
Turkey Oak
Turkey oak (Quercus laevis) grows 20 to 40 feet high and has an open form and twisted branches. Also known as "scrub oak," it resembles a shrub and produces three-lobed leaves that resemble the foot of a turkey. The leaves have bristles on the ends and are 4 to 8 inches long. Note that the South Carolina Forestry Commission describes the turkey oak as spreading through underground runners.
Gambel Oak
Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) grows wild throughout much of the Rocky Mountain region and tolerates the dry, alkaline soils found there. The tree grows 20 to 30 feet high, though it often remains smaller and shrub-like. Gambel oak is a long-lived tree that spreads through underground runners. The leaves are deeply lobed and grow 5 inches long, according to Utah State University Extension.
