11 Reasons to Avoid Planting an Oak Tree in Your Yard

There are over 400 kinds of oak trees on Earth, and about 90 of those grow in the United States. They’re undeniably beautiful but they sometimes aren’t a good choice when planting trees on your property. We’ll go over 11 reasons to avoid planting an oak tree in your yard so you understand the drawbacks.

1. Oak Trees Will Damage Buildings

At a minimum, oak trees need to be at least 20 feet away from any building. However, well over 50 feet of clearance around an oak tree is recommended. That’s because their branches can spread out over large distances, and their branches shouldn’t be over anything of value that may get damaged if they break.

Oak trees also have roots that won’t stop growing just because they butt up against concrete like other trees. As a result, they easily damage the foundations of houses and ruin basements.

2. Oak Trees Damage Public Spaces Like Sidewalks and Roads

Oak tree roots are strong, and they grow fast. They also spread out as well as growing deep. As a consequence, they will uproot roads and sidewalks in their way while also damaging swimming pools and decks.

3. Avoiding Structures When Felling a Large Oak Is Difficult

Since oak trees grow to immense sizes, removing one in a residential area can be dangerous. That’s because they require a lot of space to fall when they are cut down. Since they’re so huge, it’s hard for arborists to predict where the tree will land which puts people and property in danger.

4. Oak Trees Are a Wildlife Haven

Oak trees attract a lot of wildlife for both seasonal and permanent habitation. While this is great in wild landscapes, it can be a nuisance in neighborhoods. They readily attract animals like frogs, squirrels, snakes, raccoons, birds, chipmunks, opossums, rodents, foxes, and deer.

5. Oak Trees Purposefully Stunt Other Plant Growth

Oak trees release substances into the soil which purposefully stunts the growth of other plants near it. This survival technique is called allelopathy. The tree is releasing these chemicals to kill its competition for space, nutrients, and light.