Re: Coast Live Oak (quercus agrifolia) questions

 Chad,
 Planting or maintaining a lawn under native oaks is risky. I would
 advise on removing the lawn and planting suitable native plants under
 and near its crown. Some good native choices include Arctostaphylos
 edmundsii (Manzanita), Carpenteria californica (Carpenteria), Garrya
 eliptica (Coast Silktassel, Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon), Heuchera
 maxima (Channel Island Coral Bells), Iris douglasiana (Douglas Iris),
 Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape), Polystichum munitum (Sword Fern) and
 Ribes viburnifolium (Evergreen Ribes). Several of the native grasses
 would also be appropriate including Deschampsia caespitosa (Hairgrass)
 and Festuca california (California Fescue).

 The Oak may look fine now but sooner than later the addition of summer
 water & nutrients for your lawn will cause die back or crown thinning.
 Large specimen native Oaks are truly unique. Lawns are commonplace and
 high maintenance.

 The California Oak Foundation publishes a booklet called "Compatible
 Planting Under and Around Oaks". They are located at 1212 Broadway,
 Oakland, CA. Their phone is 510 - 763-0282.
 They also publish a great book called "Oaks of California", which is
 full of lots of great pictures and loads of information on our native
 oaks.

 If you need a consultant to visit your site I would highly recommend
 Barry Coate, Horticultural Consultant & Consulting Arborist, who lives
 in Los Gatos at (408) 353-1052. Barry is one of the most knowledgeable
 Oak persons in the Bay Area.
 I hope this information helps.

 Slugfully yours,

 Ernie



 "Who passes by sees the leaves;
  Who asks, sees the roots."

  - Charcoal Seller, Madagascar
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