Just one oak tree provides shelter and food for hundreds of bird and butterfy species. Plus, it offers a shady escape in your backyard. Native trees offer incredible benefits for wildlife, so it’s more important than ever to plant an oak tree.
Oak Tree Wildlife Benefits
The oak tree is indeed mighty when it comes to providing for your favorite fliers. More than 330 wildlife species depend on these trees for survival. Oak trees support about 530 butterfly and moth species.
More Reasons to Plant an Oak Tree
Once an oak tree is established, they live 200 years or longer. If you have room for only one shade tree in your yard, you should plant an oak.
How and When to Plant an Oak Tree
A well-planted oak tree is hearty, resisting diseases and insect infections. Purchase a species that is not susceptible to problems or contact certified arborists who know about native oaks for suggestions.
Once you’ve settled on the right species for your space, choose a spot that provides at least a half day of sun, as oaks require light to flourish. Buy a young tree, no taller than 2 or 3 feet, in a 5 or 10 gallon container. Plant in spring or fall. Dig a hole three times wider than the container and loosen the soil. Place the tree in the hole, making sure the root flare is level with the surrounding soil. Plant the oak tree into the soil you have – no fertilizer needed.
Add leaf mulch annually to help suppress weeds and maintain moisture. The mulch should not be in contact with the bark. During the first growing season, water about an inch a week unless it rains.
Enjoying Your Oak Tree
When the oak starts growing, you will notice wildlife using it at different times of the year. Adult butterflies lay their eggs on the leaves; catepillars hatch and eat the leaves before creating their chrysalises and becoming adults. Some bird species time their spring migration around the unfurling of oak leaves and the hatching of caterpillars.