Monterrey oak's notable ornamental fea-
tures include its emerging spring leaves,
which have a peach to light green color.
By summer, the attractive leaves are thick
and leathery, and the tree can be semi-ev-
ergreen, holding its leaves longer than
most deciduous trees in the area (until
December or January). Sometimes, new
leaves push out old leaves in the spring.
Haywood recommends watering 10 gallons
(45 liters) of water per caliper inch at least
once a week (e.g. 20 gallons/90 liters a week
for a 2 inch/5-cm-caliper tree) for the first
two to three years and maintaining a 3 inch
(7.6 cm) mulch ring around the tree. (Trees
may need to be watered more often during
dry periods.) Haywood has worked to ensure
a diversity of trees are planted in new devel-
opments by requiring that no more than 20
percent of a single genera is represented.
Monterrey oak has a pyramidal to rounded
growth habit and is fast growing for an
oak, with an average shoot extension
of 2.5 feet (.76 m) per year in Denton.
As the tree grows, pruning of the lower
limbs is required over multiple seasons
to raise the crown to its desired height.
Next time you visit Denton, don't forget
to check out a new oak neighbor.
Haywood Morgan Jr.
received his Bachelors
of Science Degree in
Urban Forestry from
Southern University and
A&M College in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana. He
is a 2020 Municipal
Forestry Institute
graduate with 23 years
of experience in municipal forestry. Haywood
is the City of Denton, Texas Urban Forester and
serves on the ISA Texas Board of Directors.
Monterrey oak street tree in Denton, by Haywood Morgan.
40 CityTREES
