Ranch and Country Magazine - Spring2025 Issue

We Know Ojai. We’re Lifelong Residents.

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In 2004, Congress named the oak tree as the official national tree. The legislation was signed by the President. Today, the oak tree shares the stage with the eagle as a national symbol. More than 60 oak species are recognized nationwide, and more than 200 species can be found throughout North America. One of the most beautiful and most loved species is the quercus lobata species, commonly called the “Valley Oak.” This species is endemic to California and grows in the interior valleys from Siskiyou The Venerable Old Oak Tree County to San Diego County. Unlike many evergreen oak species, the Valley Oak is deciduous and typically loses all its leaves by winter solstice each year. The Valley Oak has a signature look with its thick ridged bark, and gnarled outstretched arms that reach to the heavens while fingering the earth. These trees typically have a mature height of 40 to 70 feet but can reach heights of 100 feet, and can live up to 600 years! The age of a Valley Oak can be determined by the diameter of its trunk. A 3 to 4 foot diameter trunk is 150 to 250 years old, a 6 to 8 foot diameter trunk could be 400 to 500 years old. A 10 foot diameter tree trunk is an outlier

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Many think of the oak tree as a slow growing tree, but oaks actually grow fast when they are young. A young Valley Oak can grow up to 20 feet in its first 5 years and 20 more feet in the next 5 years. Then the growth pattern slows significantly; the trunk thickens and increases its bulk; the branches open out. The tap root of a young Valley Oak that is10 to 40 years old will reach straight down to roughly 60 feet to find its water source. At that point, the root system begins to branch and spread, seeking out varied nutrient rich sources. Thankfully, mature Valley Oaks are relatively drought tolerant. But years of drought in the West have taken a toll on the health of these trees, and many have been lost over the last decade. Watering oaks during the spring season can help prepare them for the dry summer months ahead. But there should be NO WATERING from May to November. This is because oaks are “programmed” to endure dry summer months and water introduced at this time can cause oak root fungus that could weaken and even kill the tree. It is also recommended that mulching, drip lines, succulents, and other things under oak trees that tend to keep the soil moist should be avoided. Spring watering could include approximately 10 gallons of water per inch of the tree’s diameter, applied slowly so that it soaks in. The ground should be allowed to dry out completely before watering again.. All this being said, oak trees are hardy creatures - that’s why they’ve been around for so long. Throughout history, the oak has garnered both admiration and respect. Oak was deemed sacred to Zeus of Greek mythology. The ancient Druids of Great Britain attributed magical qualities to the oak. Native Americans revered the oak’s healing properties. The Roman goddess Diana, was often pictured with a necklace of acorns as a talisman against harm. Next time you find yourself walking among the oaks, if you happen to have a tape measure handy just measure the trunk’s circumference in inches, divide by 3.14 (pi) and multiply by 5 to get the tree’s age in years. You may be transported back to the days of the gold rush. Or even back to colonial times. Or before…

OAK VIEW HORSE PROPERTY – TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATHROOM MANUFACTURED HOME + OUTBUILDINGS ON FLAT, USABLE, .81-ACRE HORSE PROPERTY CLOSE TO LAKE CASITAS AND OAK VIEW SHOPS & RESTAURANTS. $799,000

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Nora Davis (805) 207-6177 • www.ojaivalleyestates.com

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