Watering cork oak

Content:

• Cork oak origin
• Cork oak care and location
• Pruning cork oak
• Fertilizing cork oak
• Watering cork oak

Cork oak origin

The cork oak (Quercus suber), also known as slipperwood or slipper tree, is an evergreen deciduous tree of the western Mediterranean region from the genus Oaks (Quercus)Its distribution area extends from Portugal through Spain, southern France, Italy to Turkey and North Africa.

The cork oak is characterized by its thick, spongy bark, which can be harvested every 9–12 years without damaging the tree. Due to its high resistance to drought and pests, it is one of the most important tree species in Mediterranean forestry and plays a central role in the cultural landscapes of Portugal and Spain.

Cork oak care and location

The cork oak prefers warm, sunny locations with permeable, sandy, or stony soils. It thrives particularly well in poor, dry soils and is one of the most drought-resistant oak species.

The cork oak is an extremely robust tree that generally requires little care. However, in the first few years after planting, it is important to water the young tree regularly and protect it from severe frost.

Young trees, in particular, should be protected from frost in winter. A sheltered location or other winter protection, such as fleece, is ideal. If you keep your cork oak as a container plant, you can move it to a sheltered location during the winter.

If your cork oak is located in a region where oak processionary moths are present, you should check it occasionally for pests.

Pruning cork oak

Regular pruning is not necessary for the cork oak. If pruning is necessary, it should be done in late winter or early spring, before the tree enters its growth phase. The cork oak is generally considered to be extremely tolerant of pruning. It is recommended to remove dead or damaged branches in winter.

In this article you will find more information on the topic Pruning trees.

Fertilizing cork oak

The cork oak generally doesn't require fertilization, as it is adapted to nutrient-poor soils. If you want to fertilize your cork oak, you can do so with a layer of mulch, for example. When fertilizing the cork oak, be aware that trees can be overfertilized. 

Here you will find the most important information about Fertilizing trees.

Watering cork oak

Young cork oaks require regular watering in their first few years to develop their root system. They should be watered thoroughly once a week, especially during dry summer periods.

Mature cork oaks are extremely drought-resistant and usually survive without additional irrigation. Their deep taproots allow them to absorb water from deep soil layers.

When watering a cork oak, be careful to avoid waterlogging. This tree is particularly sensitive to persistently moist soil.

Here is an orientation for the most important points for the Watering trees:

• To ensure that the water can really reach the root area, you should give a lot of water at once, ideally 75 – 100 liters of water in one watering.
• Make sure the water is released as slowly as possible. This is important so that the soil can absorb it. If the water is added too quickly, flows It dries off superficially, as dry soil can only absorb a small amount of water. Therefore, we recommend using tree watering bags. 
• The baumbad watering bags They release water drop by drop into the soil through small holes over a period of several hours. This ensures even soil moisture throughout the entire root zone, allowing the roots to absorb the water easily. Using the irrigation bags, the water actually reaches the tree. 
• If you do not use tree watering bags, we recommend watering the tree early in the morning or late in the evening. Giessen.