The oak tree is an iconic tree and a particular favourite of the English. Oak has always been a highly prized timber and it was used a lot in the days of timber ship building and is still used today in building construction because it is very strong. It also has high levels of tannin which protect it from fungal attack or insect attack.

Oak trees have played big roles throughout history. They were used in interior paneling of prominent buildings back in the middle ages, furniture construction, ship construction, and in making barrels for storage of spirits such as whiskey and bourbon. Believe it or not, oak also adds flavor to the alcohol that is stored within. Also, since oak contributes greatly to the process of ageing, people also use oak wood chips to smoke fish, meat, and cheeses among others.

When Oak trees are planted for shade trees one must consider the overall height of the tree. The Black Oak Tree, and White Oak Tree can grow as tall as a hundred feet, whereas, the Water Oak and Sand Live Oak, and Chinquapin Oak will only reach fifty feet or there about. Quercus rubra or Northern Red Oak, one of the fastest growing oak trees, can reach towering heights of eighty feet in just about half the time that a Sand Live Oak takes to grow fifty feet, and is often a choice shade tree among new home builders.