Erath Extension Agent Lonnie Jenschke

Friday, October 13, 2023, the Texas AgriLife Erath, Commanche and Hamilton County will be hosting the Tri-County Cattle Gathering at the M&P Brangus Ranch (1101 FM 2823, Dublin Tx.)

Registration will begin at 11:30 followed with meal provided by local sponsors. The program topics will include Brush & Weed Control in Drought Stress Pastures and Rangelands, Ag & Drought Recovery Economics, Small Grains for Forage In Central Texas, Drought Recovery Tools For Summer Perennials.

Wrap-up will be at 4:00 with one CEU offered. For more information contact the Erath Texas AgriLife Office at 254965- 1460.

Superstar shade tree

Native tree offer aesthetics, Texastoughness for all conditions.

Mexican white oak, also known as Coahuila oak, Mexican oak, Monterrey oak, Monterrey white oak or net-leaf white oak, performs as a handsome shade, street or park tree across the state, said Mike Arnold, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research horticulturist and Texas Superstar executive board member, Bryan-College Station.

The tree is a relative newcomer to the Texas nursery trade, but it has proven to be a great addition as a shade tree because it can tolerate hot, dry, windy conditions, he said.

Plant explorers found tree populations in Val Verde County in the 1990s, so both Texas and Mexico can claim the Mexican white oak as a native, Arnold said.

Its foliage, marked by an array of variable lobes, casts a canopy of green and hues of blue. In its youthful stages, this oak showcases an upright oval form before maturing into a mediumsized tree that’s perfect for shading streets, parks and gardens.

The tree’s rich, dense canopy is tardily deciduous in colder parts of its range to semievergreen in warmer areas, he said. Mexican white oak persists through the harshest of conditions, braving the sweltering Texas heat as well as winter temperature fluctuations.

“The Mexican white oak’s performance during winters of U.S. Department of Agriculture zone 7 and warmer portions of zone 6 have been impressive,” Arnold said. “It is rapidly becoming a welcome addition to the Texas plant palette.”

Mexican white oak trees perform best in full sun and soils with good drainage. Trees appear to endure open exposures, even those with reflected heat, minimal irrigation and windy locations. Salinity exposure has not been fully documented, but the trees tolerate a wide range of soil pH and exposure to at least moderate salinity, as long as irrigation is applied via drip rather than overhead.

Typically, trees mature to a height of 35-45 feet but can grow to as much as 60 feet tall on more favorable sites, he said. They provide a wellproportioned canopy around single and double story structures, and with a spread typically two-thirds to equal its height, they offer a perfect blend of shade and aesthetic appeal.

As a hardy deciduous to semi-evergreen woody perennial, the Mexican white oak flaunts its beauty through the seasons, he added. Planting opportunities vary from fall in warmer regions to early spring and summer in cooler locations.

At this time, relative susceptibility of Mexican white oak to oak wilt has not fully been documented, so Arnold recommends using soils where oak wilt has not been shown to be a problem.

“In a world where landscaping choices are more important than ever, the Mexican white oak stands as a symbol of resilience, adaptability and natural elegance — a true ‘superstar’ in the diverse tapestry of Texas flora,” Arnold said.