I live in Wisconsin and recently purchased 40 acres. The forester came out and done a map of the property for MFL. I have some red oak that is 83 yrs old in a 2 acre piece and a 12 acre section bordering it that are 60 yrs old. The 2 acre piece she called red oak and the 12 acre piece is scub oak. I don't understand how I can have 2 different varieties on the same hillside and the same elevation with the same soil type(sandy loam)? What does determine the difference between red and scrub oak?

Hi Michael,

It is quite common to observe multiple oak species across a landscape. For example, Illinois is home to twenty native oak species and many of these oak species commonly occur within the same stand of timber.

Unfortunately, I do not know which species of oak your forester is referring to when she mentions "scrub oak". She probably was referring to a plant community with low fertility and limited tree development (i.e., height and diameter growth) common to some sandy outwash sites.

If you want to know exactly which species of oak she is referring to when she mentions "scrub", please just give her a call for clarification.

Best of luck!