By Phillip F. Hunter,
Hunter Trees LLC

Looking for that edge in your whitetail deer management program? Is something missing from your deer food plot plans? Have your mast producing trees ended up at the sawmill? If you have answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions the answer may be Sawtooth Oaks!

The rapidly growing Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima) is prized for its early and prolific acorn production and adaptivity to a wide range of soil types and planting locations. This Asian introduction matures in size ranging from 40-60’ in height as well as width, although extensive seedling variation is the norm. Acorn production often occurs in trees as young as five to seven years of age, heavy production is not unusual. Sawtooths tend to bear in alternate years but aggressively growing trees may fruit annually. Oblong leaves have bristly teeth on the margins (thus the name), have a consistent yellow fall color and persist throughout the winter until spring bud break forces them off.
Sawtooth Oaks can be used in many ways to complement your management program.

A popular trend is to use them in existing greenfields where they are easily observed and maintained. Plant the trees in a single line down the long edge of a greenfield approximately twenty-five feet from the woodline and twenty-five feet apart. This leaves plenty of room for other green field activities such as mowing and cultivation. This method will help create a ‘secure zone’ for late afternoon feeding deer to move into early, increasing your chances of sighting that trophy buck. Plant your trees within bow range of a good climbing tree or stand for a early season bowhunting ‘honey hole’. Sawtooths can also be planted ‘orchard style’ with trees laid out in staggered rows twenty-five feet on center.

This method, used in conjunction with surrounding pine plantation or other heavy cover, creates a food source (and hunting) oasis. There is no need to replant every year, thus saving you time and money. In a reforestation application diversify, add white oaks, overcup oaks, red oaks such as shumard or nuttall, and willow oaks. None of these acorn bearers will produce as quickly as sawtooth oaks, but the variety will pay off in time with different ripening dates throughout the fall.

Sawtooth Oaks can be planted in many sizes ranging from a seed (acorn) to a multi-year aged tree. Hunter Trees, LLC, has settled upon three methods and sizes that will give you satisfactory results but vary greatly with initial effort, cost, and maintenance. By far the cheapest method and least labor intensive method of installation is with the use of sawtooths started in small pots (ranging from one to three inch diameter).

You can plant these pots with a hand shovel and little soil preparation. However this size will have the highest mortality and require the most maintenance. A larger container, the three gallon pot, will often give you a strong 5-6’ tall tree with a good root system. This tree obviously requires more labor to plant (use a mechanical auger or a shovel), and will still require maintenance for the next few years. The three gallon tree is easier to spot out in a cutover, or when mowing overgrown greenfields. The next step in size is a big jump. For instant effect, rapid acorn production, and minimal maintenance you need to plant large Sawtooth Oaks.

These are trees that have been grown in a nursery setting for several years and then transplanted to your selected site. They usually range from two to four inches in caliper at six inches above the ground and up to twenty feet in height. Additional advantages include zero mortality, nursery culling of poor trees, nursery pruning and training of young trees, and minor susceptibility to animal damage. The drawback is larger equipment is needed for handling and planting, and the trees cost more on the front end. Should you have the resources to install these larger trees, I think you will be more than satisfied with the results.

Regardless of the size tree you start with, there are a few planting and maintenance practices you should follow. Dig a hole for planting at least twice as large as the rootball of the tree, amend the soil if poor or import topsoil. Plant the tree slightly higher than the surrounding grade and create a saucer of the soil to facilitate watering. Stake young trees with bamboo stakes 6-7’ tall to encourage a straight central leader, tie a brightly colored ribbon to the top of the stake to help spot them. Plant trees in the dormant season to take advantage of rainfall and cooler temperatures. Fertilize yearly with a complete slow release fertilizer. Trees planted in green fields will be fertilized annually anyway. Control weed competition with herbicide or mechanical removal. Bottom line is more care and less competition will lead to faster growing and producing trees.

The Sawtooth Oak will add to your habitat and food source diversity, leading to a more satisfactory deer hunting experience. In addition, don’t forget Sawtooth Oaks are an excellent selection for home and office landscape use.

For sales and more information about the Sawtooth Oak and other varieties contact Phillip F. Hunter and Hunter Trees LLC, toll free @ 1-866-348-6837 or e-mail
sales@huntertrees.com.