Oaks have long been a symbol of stability, sturdiness, and strength. If you’re a fan of The Lord of The Rings, you may recall a character named Thorin Oakenshield. This was no random choice. As the leader of the band of adventurers, Tolkien specifically chose oak because it invokes the idea of a strong, fearless leader. And if you’ve ever stood in the shade of a mighty oak, you’ll understand why. Today, we’d like to share some cool things you might not have known about oak trees!

Interesting Facts About Oak Trees

Oaks Make Ink

One of the traditional methods of making ink for writing was by using oak! Oak gall ink was used to write some of the most important documents in history, from government treatises to musical compositions!

Oaks Are Giants

Some of the tallest trees you can find here in Michigan are oaks. They can easily reach 70 feet or more! If you have an oak tree yourself, you probably know how tedious it can be to trim them. At PPM Tree Service & Arbor Care, we offer tree pruning and shaping so you can rest in the shade of your oak, enjoying its beauty without the hazards!

Oaks Are Thirsty

The larger oak trees need as much as 50 gallons of water a day! As such, if you have a yard that struggles with flooding, you may want to plant an oak or two. They will help soak up all the excess water! And with proper tree care practices, there’s no reason your family can’t expect to enjoy these trees for many, many years.

Oaks Are Gamblers

As you may recall from childhood stories, oaks produce acorns – which are their fruit, by the way, not a seed! Once oaks reach maturity, around 20 years old, they will then begin to produce acorns. On average, an oak will produce about 2,000 acorns, but only about 1 in 10,000 will survive to become a new tree! That’s a 0.0001% chance! And yet, these mighty trees are plentiful in our Michigan woods. It just goes to show you how truly remarkable these trees are!

Oaks Are Popular With Distillers

From winemakers to whiskey distillers, oak is the most popular choice for barrels in which alcohol will be aged. And the age of the oak can affect the flavor of the wine as well! Bourbon, for instance, can only be made using brand new oak barrels. Once the bourbon has been made, these barrels get resold to other manufacturers for spirits like scotch.

Oaks Live For A Long Time

On average, oak trees will live to at least 200, though some can live for thousands of years. In fact, legend has it that Major Oak, a tree in Sherwood Forest in England, is 1,000 years old and helped shelter Robin Hood and the other outlaws!

Oak Is Our National Tree

You probably know that each state has a state bird and state flower, but did you know that we have a national tree? And it’s the oak! During George W. Bush’s presidency, the oak tree was chosen as the official tree of America.

Oak Trees Are Legendary

Many cultures around the world incorporate oaks as part of their myths and legends. In Norse tradition, the oak tree might have inspired the idea of Yggdrasil, the sacred tree. In ancient Greece, people believed that oaks were a favorite of the god Zeus. In the Wicca tradition, the Oak King is one of the two faces of the Sun God.

Oaks Come In Many Varieties

In North America, there are about 160 different species of oak trees.

Find Tree Care Service Near Ann Arbor, Michigan

Would you like to add a towering oak to your plant family? The experts at PPM Tree Service & Arbor Care can help you find the perfect oak for your yard! We’ll plant it, prune it, and shape it as it grows! We’ve helped thousands of Michigan families across the metro Detroit area with tree trimming and tree care service for over 20 years! If you’d like to add an oak or any other tree to your yard, please don’t hesitate to give us a call! Learn more by calling (877) 454-8733 or leave us a message online.

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