Quercus robur - English Oak

--Characteristics--

Probably the best-loved British native tree, the English Oak is a familiar sight in parkland and the countryside. Its spreading, rugged shape, massive trunk and distinctive lobed leaves have all become a symbol for the British nation, and its seed, the acorn, is a logo for the National Trust. Long-lived, and with the highest conservation value of any of our native trees (it supports over 400 different species of insect) the English Oak is an essential part of our natural heritage.

Site and soil

Prefers heavy clay soils, but will do well on lighter soils which do not dry out. Good on exposed windy sites.

Height and spread

Below are the approximate stages of growth, assuming sited in suitable conditions for this species;

After 10 years: 4m x 3m
After 20 years: 9m x 5m

Leaf and bark

The almost stalkless leaves have 4-5 lobes and reach about 12cm in length. They turn brown before leaf fall in late autumn. The bark is grey and deeply fissured.

Flower, seed and fruit

The yellowish-green flowers are borne on the end of new growth in May; the male flowers and long catkins, the females small and inconspicuous. The fruit, the acorn, develops on the end of long stalks, the smooth oval green seed being held in a rough-textured cup. It ripens in autumn.

Uses

Woodland, parkland, specimen tree, commemorative tree.

The English Oak slows its growth down as it matures, producing a timber which is both very hard and very durable. Famously, it was used for building warships from Tudor times, and Nelson urged the government to plant more oak woodlands for this purpose during the Napoleonic Wars.

Oak was also used extensively in buildings and for furniture, and the bark was used for tanning leather. Oak sawdust and oak galls were used for making dyes and ink, and the bark has been used medicinally to treat lung disorders, as an antiseptic and in the treatment of diarrhoea. The acorns were a valuable food for pigs – and for humans in times of famine. The oak was the sacred tree of the Druids, and in some areas country customs such as tree dressing still survive. The oak is also the derivation of many place-names, for example Okehampton, Sevenoaks.

Wildlife

Over 400 species of insect depend upon the oak – more than any other native tree. Jays and small mammals eat the acorns. The oak comes into leaf late, allowing wild flowers and mosses to flourish. Older trees often develop hollow trunks, giving shelter to mammals and birds.

--Plant Protection--

--Planting & Care--

Aftercare

Oak is not usually pruned, but damaged branches should be tidied to a clean cut as damage occurs.

The main reasons for buying protection is to protect the plants against:

• Pests
• Spraying
• Strimming

Pests

When it comes to deciding what protection to choose the golden rule is to choose the product dependent on which pest you are protecting against. The below will help you in deciding what height of protection you will need.

Vole, Mice 20cm	Rabbit 60cm	Hare 75cm	Roe Deer, Muntjac 1.20m	Fallow Deer 1.50m

Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Vole, Mice 20cm	Vole Guard 20cm	None required
Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Rabbit 60cm	Spiral Guard 60cm x 38mm, 60cm x 50mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
	Tubex Easywrap 60cm x 50-65mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
	Mesh Guard with Spray Shield 60cm x 130mm	2 x Bamboo Canes 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
	Tubex Fruitwrap 60cm x 65-80mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
	Tubex Ecostart 60cm x 57-73cm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Tree Shelter 60cm x 73-105mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shrub Shelter 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 144-200mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shrub Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube for Shrubs 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Hare 75cm	Tubex Easywrap 75cm x 50-65mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs
	Spiral Guard 75cm x 50mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs
	Tubex Fruitwrap 75cm x 65-80mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs
	Tubex Ecostart 75cm x 57-73mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Tree Shelter 75cm x 73-105mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Combitube 75cm x 73-105mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 90cm x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 75cm x 80-110mm, 90cm x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shrub Shelter 75cm x 130-160mm, 75cm x 144-200mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Roe Deer/Muntjac 1.20m	Tubex Tree Shelter 1.20m x 73-105mm, 1.20m x 80-120mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
	Tubex Combitube 1.20m x 73-105mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
	Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 1.20m x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 1.20m x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
	Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard 1.20m x 300mm	Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.20m x 50mm, 1.50m x 50mm
Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Fallow Deer 1.50m	Tubex Tree Shelter 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
	Tubex Combitube 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
	Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
	Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard 1.80m x 300mm, 1.80m x 600mm	Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.80m x 60mm

Spraying

Tubex tree shelters offer the benefit of not only protecting against animal damage, they also ensure that herbicides do not come into contact with the plants during spraying.

The main reason for spraying is weed control, however, there are other options available to suppress weeds, such as weed control matting.

Strimming

Young plants should be protected from damage caused when strimming. To protect plants solely for strimming, our strimmer guards are the ideal product.