This Oak grows on sandy, loamy or clay soils on acid soils. Chlorosis often develops on alkaline soils. Although this can be temporarily corrected with applications of appropriate fertilizers containing iron, it is best to choose an oak tolerant of high pH if the soil test indicates a pH above 7.5. Appears to adapt to compacted clay soil. Acorn crops are irregular making seeds somewhat scarce, especially in certain years.

Scarlet Oak has a tap root on loose, well-drained soil and is difficult to transplant; only use nursery grown plants for transplanting, not those collected from the wild. More trees should become available as nursery operators begin using production techniques that create a denser root system. This will make them easier to transplant. Reported to exhibit less chlorosis problems than Pin Oak.

Existing trees are often left near new homes and other buildings in new developments. Roots damaged by construction equipment decay quickly. This can leave the plant with few supporting roots in the years following construction despite a green canopy. The tree could fall over as a result. In addition, branches that are suddenly exposed to unlimited light when nearby trees are removed begin to grow rapidly. As a result, they could become too long and break. Keep them shortened with reduction cuts to help prevent breakage.

This is the official tree of Washington D.C. Wood weighs about 67 pounds per cubic foot. Oak wood is considered ring porous to semi-ring porous.

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