A neighbor tells me that water oaks are "weed trees," and that once you have them, they're almost impossible to get rid of. She acts like I should consider them the same way I consider poison ivy, as something bad Bad BAD!

What do y'all think?



Reason I'm asking -- I think I might have one in my yard. It's grown 12ft in 3 years or so, which is way faster than any of my other oaks are growing, and the leaves are small, but not not willow oak leaves





If they really are "trash trees," I can easily remove it and replace it with something else. But if they're not trash trees, or if this isn't a water oak, then I'm inclined to leave it be.

Thanks!

I have three very large Water Oaks in my yard. IDK why they are called trash trees in your area? Mine are just as beautiful as the Red Oak, White Oaks, Post Oaks etc, grown locally. They give us a lot of shade and they don't drop their leaves completely like the Red Oak does. (and at a different time of year, too) I know they reproduce faster than most oaks. Maybe their numbers make them "trash"? Your leaves look a little different than mine. They have more points. Most young water oaks have smooth, spatula-like leaves?? Take it to a nursery to be sure.

I am researching Oak trees in Florida where I live, tonight for some reason and stumbled across this ancient thread that I just wanted to inform anyone else who googles this. I have a 1.03 acre lot that I live on in a 2 story 1400sqft house... The yard was decent when I moved in, after living here 3 years, 1/4 of the water oaks have died and I just cut the rest of them down (about 40 or so). They are pretty much garbage down here you should be surprised to see one live for 10 years.