Sun or light shade; deciduous, with unique saw-toothed margins and a rounded canopy that provides great shade. Chinquapin oak does well in the limestone soils around San Antonio and grows at a moderate rate. It’s moderately resistant to oak wilt. Pruning is always optional. Cuts should only be made at a bud or branch; in general, focus on minimizing dead, damaged, or rubbing branches. As with any tree, remove no more than 25% of the total canopy during any five-year cycle. To maintain a healthy specimen, leave the upper 2/3 of the tree’s height uncut and only remove the lowest third of the tree in a single pruning period — for example: on a 12-foot tree, stick to the lowest 4 feet. Mulch with about 2″ of woodchips or pine bark wherever possible. (In general, a tree’s mulched area should be six feet at minimum.)