Light. Plant it in full sun, where it grows best.
Water. The first year, give 2 gallons per inch of trunk diameter, two to three times a week. Established trees handle drought but may drop leaves in long dry spells.
Soil and feeding. It grows in acidic or alkaline soil, sand or clay, and copes with compacted ground. It grows fastest in rich, moist soil. Mulch 3–4 in deep, but not over the root ball.
Size. Grows to 40 ft or more; mature trees reach 55–80 ft tall with a crown 40–50 ft wide. It grows fast.
Pruning. Prune while young to keep one central trunk, with main branches less than half the trunk's diameter. Once trained, it needs less pruning than live oak.
Problems to watch. Usually trouble-free. Mites and root rot in wet soil are the main problems; galls are mostly harmless.
Good to know. Squirrels and turkeys eat the large acorns.
Sources: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Shumard Oak · UF/IFAS EDIS ST561: Quercus shumardii: Shumard Oak · Natives for Your Neighborhood (Institute for Regional Conservation): Quercus shumardii
