Like most hardwoods, sawtooth oaks have thin bark and will not tolerate wildfire or prescribed burning as do thicker-barked pines. Control Competing Vegetation Sawtooth oaks do not compete well with weeds, other trees, or deer. To get maximum growth rates eliminate other vegetation within 1 foot around the seedling. After the first year, control competition around the stem to a distance as wide as the sawtooth oak's canopy. Use a herbicide that will not harm a hardwood tree but is effective on grasses and weeds.
Weed mats are very effective as well.
The one draw back of tree shelters is their cost. Acorn Production Sawtooth oaks planted on reasonably productive sites using the guidelines described here will produce prolific crops of acorns in 7 to 10 years. Acorn production is fairly consistent year to year. However, minimal crops can be expected following late spring or early fall frosts. Yields from mature trees in good years range from 1,000 to 1,300 pounds of acorns per tree.