Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak

Heat-Loving Oak Tree with Dense Shade

Do you need a tree that’s going to thrive in the heat and give you dense shade to keep your landscape cool? The Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak is an oak cultivar that was bred to grow quickly in arid conditions.

With dense shade and little to no maintenance required, the Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak is ideal for landscapes and streetscapes alike. It grows up to 20-30 ft. with a canopy that’s 20-30 ft., as well! This large canopy casts a shade that will cool your space all year long with its evergreen leaves.

These evergreen leaves are dark green with leathery tops and soft and fuzzy undersides. They only shed for a brief time at the beginning of spring to make room for the next year’s new growth and inconspicuous blooms.

And you can rest easy knowing that your Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak isn’t going to need lots of maintenance. It requires very little trimming and pruning and is resistant to diseases and pests, including rabbits and deer.

Since this tree was bred to thrive in the arid temperatures of the southern United States, it’s extremely heat and drought tolerant. Plus, it’s also tolerant to long periods of freezing temperatures.

Whether you’re looking for a shade tree for your hot and dry landscapes or a low- maintenance tree for your streetscape, the Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak would be the perfect solution. Order yours before they’re gone!

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Do not plant too close to structures, streets, or sidewalks, and ensure you select an area with well-drained soil and enough sunlight per day.

Dig your hole and make it twice as wide as the diameter and as deep as the depth of the root ball. Keep the tree straight as you back fill the soil, gently tamping down the soil with your shovel until it’s firm. Water the planting area thoroughly, allowing the water to really soak into the ground. Spread a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch around the tree.

2. Watering: Over-watering is a common tree care mistake. A damp soil that dries for a short period will allow adequate oxygen to permeate the soil. As a rule of thumb, your soil should be kept moist. Usually 30 seconds with a steady stream of water from a garden hose once a week in the cooler seasons is sufficient. In warmer climates, you may need to water 2 to 3 times weekly. Cease watering during the winter.

3. Fertilizing: Oak Trees experience a quick spurt of growth in the spring, followed by slower spurts of growth throughout the summer and fall seasons. Apply your fertilizer in the early spring before this initial spring growth spurt starts. The best fertilizers for oaks are those with a nutrient ratio of 12-6-6 or 12-4-8. While a healthy Live Oak doesn’t technically require fertilization, occasional feeding can help boost tree growth and acorn production.

4. Pruning: Pruning your tree during the winter months will allow it to care for its wounds in spring, when it will recover more quickly. At first, limit trimming only to dead or broken branches on newly planted trees. Two to three years after planting, you can begin developmental trimming to shape the tree.