Quote:
Originally Posted by Polar Bear
Cutting them back makes them "grow like crazy" is a bit of an exaggeration. (Sorry, Chi.  ) Shaping them is wise IMHO. And overall they are slow growers. |
You are right that they grow slower with age, but the younger ones (like most of the ones in our yards) grow quickly. I have mine cut back and later shaped regularly.
"Typical Lifespan: Southern live oaks are fast growing trees, but their growth rate slows with age. They may reach close to their maximum trunk diameter within 70 years. The oldest live oaks in the country are estimated to be between several hundred to over a thousand years old."
Southern Live Oak - National Wildlife Federation