Prune in winter or early spring. Remove dead or damaged wood any time of year. Leaves are glossy. Fall leaf color is yellow. Leaves persist late into fall and winter.
Acorns are abundant and provide food for wildlife.
Water oaks are used as shade trees, in buffer strips and along highways. They are adapted to wet, swampy areas, such as along stream banks and ponds, but they tolerate most well-drained sites. They prefer slightly alkaline to acidic soils and sun or partial shade. They transplant easily. Water oaks are subject to several disease and insect problems, including galls, leaf spots, scale insects and borers.