By: Shelby McCullough| Published: October 15, 2026
TL;DR: Laurel oaks are fast-growing native oaks with weak wood. They handle decay poorly and usually live only 50 to 70 years, so they fail more often than live oaks, especially in storms. In older Orlando yards, have an arborist check any big laurel oak near your home. Depending on its condition, you can prune it, keep an eye on it, or remove and replace it.
Laurel oaks in Florida fail more often than most shade trees because their wood is weak and they wall off decay poorly. UF/IFAS puts their typical life span at 50 to 70 years, and many trunks rot out long before the tree looks sick. That makes laurel oak failure risk a real concern for older yards in Orlando.
Below we explain why these trees break and how they compare to other oaks. We also cover the warning signs to look for and what you can do about them. If you have a big oak shading your roof, it’s worth five minutes.
Why do laurel oaks fail so often?
Laurel oaks fail mostly because of decay you can’t see from outside. They grow fast, so they make shade quickly. The tradeoff is weaker wood. They also seal off wounds poorly. The University of Florida’s storm damage research says pruning cuts, trunk injuries and root damage can all lead to hollows and widespread decay in the trunk and roots.
Small wounds turn into long decay columns
The UF/IFAS laurel oak fact sheet says even a small trunk injury or a bad pruning cut can leave columns of decay inside the trunk that run 10, 20 or more feet long. A mower scar at the base, an old flush cut or a limb torn off in a storm can all be starting points.
Age catches up around 50 years
The same fact sheet says laurel oak tends to hollow out as it nears 50 years old. A tree can keep a full, green canopy while the inside of the trunk is rotting. That is why many laurel oaks look fine right up until a big limb comes down.
Wet soil adds stress to the roots
UF/IFAS also lists root rot as common in wet years. Around Orlando, the summer rainy season overlaps with hurricane season. Wet, sandy soil plus weakened roots is a bad mix when the wind picks up.
How does laurel oak failure risk compare to other Florida oaks?
Laurel oak is riskier than live oak because it lives a shorter life and has less resistance to decay. Many yards in Conway and Pine Castle have more than one kind of oak, and they are easy to mix up. Laurel oak leaves are narrow, smooth and shiny with no lobes. The tree usually drops its leaves in early spring.
| Oak species | Typical life span | Decay resistance | How it handles hurricanes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel oak | 50 to 70 years | Low. Trunks and big limbs often hollow out | Less likely to survive hurricanes than live oak in UF studies |
| Live oak | Can live for centuries with good care | Higher. More resistant to decay | Ranks near the top for wind resistance |
| Water oak | About 30 to 50 years | Low. Can break apart from rot at maturity | Grouped with laurel oak as a weak performer in storms |
How do laurel oaks usually come down in storms?
Older laurel oaks usually fail in one of two ways. Some lose big limbs. Others go over entirely when decayed roots or a hollow trunk give way. In UF/IFAS hurricane research, laurel oak survived significantly worse than live oak and sand live oak across four Florida Panhandle hurricanes. In Hurricane Ivan, laurel oaks lost over 25% of their branches on average.
UF researchers also found that more old laurel and water oaks fell in hurricanes than other trees. Orlando sits inland, but tropical storms still bring strong gusts and days of rain. Summer thunderstorms can bring sudden downbursts too. A tall laurel oak with a heavy, dense crown catches a lot of wind.
If a laurel oak has already split or fallen on your property, stay clear of it and any downed lines. Our storm damage tree cleanup crews can remove it safely.
What signs mean a laurel oak needs a professional look?
Call an arborist if you see any of these on a laurel oak that could hit your house, driveway, fence or a neighbor’s property:
- Mushrooms or shelf-like growths (conks) on the trunk, root flare or surface roots
- Cavities, open hollows or soft, crumbly wood
- Dark, weeping stains on the lower trunk
- Long cracks or seams running up the trunk, or bark peeling away
- Dead branches or thin, sparse leaves in the top of the canopy
- Old large pruning cuts or stubs that never closed over
- A new lean, or lifted and cracked soil at the base after a storm
- Roots cut during driveway, pool, plumbing or irrigation work
One sign alone doesn’t mean the tree has to go. But an older laurel oak with two or more of these near your home deserves a closer look. A tree risk assessment weighs the defects, the tree’s size and what’s underneath it.
Should you prune, monitor or remove an aging laurel oak?
That depends on how much sound wood is left and what the tree would hit if it fell. A laurel oak over an empty back corner in Union Park is a different case than one hanging over a bedroom.
Young trees: prune early and often
UF/IFAS recommends training laurel oaks to one central trunk. Keep major branches less than half the trunk’s diameter and space them 2 to 3 feet apart. Regular pruning means only small branches ever need to come off, and UF/IFAS says this may extend the tree’s life.
Mature trees in fair shape: trim carefully and check often
Remove deadwood and lighten long, heavy limbs. Avoid big cuts, flush cuts and topping, since each wound is a new way in for decay. Have the tree checked on a regular schedule and again after any major storm.
Declining trees near your home: remove and replace
If the trunk is hollow or decay has reached the roots, pruning won’t fix it. Removal is often the safer call. Then replant with a longer-lived species. UF/IFAS names live oak and shumard oak among the more durable choices. Before removing a tree, check with the City of Orlando or Orange County, because rules can vary by location.
Why work with McCullough Tree Service on a laurel oak?
McCullough Tree Service is family-owned and operated.
We have 3 ISA-Certified Arborists on staff who can evaluate an aging laurel oak through a certified arborist consultation.
We are fully insured.
We handle tree trimming, tree removal, storm cleanup, stump grinding and tree planting, so one company can take a problem tree from evaluation to replacement.
Estimates are always free, and financing options are available.
We are based at 948 Ferne Dr, Longwood, FL 32779, and serve Orange and Seminole counties, including Orlando.
Worried about a big laurel oak near your home? Call (407) 734-5854 or book a free estimate, and one of our ISA-Certified Arborists will come take a look.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell a laurel oak from a live oak in my yard?
Laurel oak leaves are narrow, smooth and shiny with no lobes, and the tree usually drops most of them in early spring. Live oaks keep their leaves and tend to grow wider than they are tall. If you’re unsure, an arborist can confirm the species during an estimate.
Does a hollow laurel oak always need to be removed?
Not always. What matters is how much sound wood is left around the hollow, where the decay is, and what the tree could hit if it fails. An ISA-Certified Arborist can weigh those factors before you decide.
Is it a good idea to plant a new laurel oak?
Laurel oak gives fast shade, but UF/IFAS lists its life span at only 50 to 70 years. For a tree near your house that you want to last, a longer-lived species like live oak is usually the better choice.
When should I have my laurel oak checked before hurricane season?
Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, so late winter or spring is a good time for a check. That leaves time to trim or remove the tree before storms arrive.
Recommended Reads
- What Is a Tree Risk Assessment and Do You Need One in Florida?
- McCullough Tree Service in Orlando & Central Florida
- Certified Arborist in Orlando & Central Florida
Sources
- ask.ifas.ufl.edu
- ask.ifas.ufl.edu
- ask.ifas.ufl.edu
- hort.ifas.ufl.edu
- gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu
- blogs.ifas.ufl.edu
