marksson wrote:
Can anyone tell me how much submersion a mature Oak might be able to
take without undue side effects?
Basically I have an Oak that dips it's 'toes' into a stream.
This stream may soon have it's levels raised, and this will put about
1/2 of the base of the Oak (it comes out of the bank at an angle) in
permanent submersion. How will the tree lilely to be affected.
Thanks in advance.




Water oaks and willow oaks can stand some submersion, but it is
periodic. The problem is water saturation of the soil, and denial of
oxygen, if enough roots are above the water should be well off, however,
the other side, the water saturated portion of the soil will not hold
the roots, nor the tree up, and it will fall.

In short, go ahead and plant a tree further back from the stream.