Live Oak & Southern Magnolia
Tree Information and Facts
Live Oak
Live Oaks can live 300+ years long and grow to 40-60 feet tall;1/2-2 feet per year. It has compound leaves that are short,long,and eliptical. These trees produce acorns that will fall to the ground and be spread around by animals. These trees have few pests and are strong and reliable;they can stand different climates and are highly drought tolerant. Even though therre are few, look out fore parasidic mites. Some of the animals that need it are squirls, racoons, opposum, foxes, robins, blue jays, tent catipillars, spider mites, and gypse moths. For public areas such as schools some limmiting factors would be us humans and pollution. On the school you would need to prune the tree as it grows to allow human/vehicle clearance under it. Abiotic factors needed to survive would be water, soil, and sun light.In the ecosystem it may play as shelter and a food scorce.
Sothern Magnolia
These trees can grow up to 40-80 feet tall and grow at 1-2 feet a year. They live 80-120 years long and have simple eliptical leaves. These grow in warm and semitropical climates and are very drought resistant but prefer moist climate. These grow magnolia flowers and animals that depend apon it are beetles, mice, squirls, moles,rabits, opposums, and even deer that feed on the flowers. There are parasites like the magnolia root borer and the tulip tree scale. Like the oak tree, some limiting factors would be humans interaction and pollution and abiotic factors it needs are water, soil sunlight.These play a roll in the ecosystem as a food source but not as much as a shelter.
Planting and Growing Trees
First you will need to find the place you will plant it. Make sure the tree wouldn't interfier with underground wires or pipes and if you are planting it in a community, remember to get permission. Also plant it during autum. If you plant it in the spring or fall it won't be able to adjust. Dig the hole 4-5 times the width of the root ball and gently place the tree in the hole. If the soil is not rich you canuse compost to fill in hole. Water the tree; water 1 gallon for every 6 inches of tree height. Cover the planting hole with 1-3 inches of mulch then water again. Stake the tree if necessary to keep it standing for atleast 1 year. Avoid using brand name fertalizers because will lead to an unaturial boost of growth that will then cause its growth to get stunted later on. Keep watering for the first few years untill it gets established. Then enjoy your new tree.