However, extensive use of oaks did not start until the 1500s, when the Spanish discovered oak’s superiority in ship building. Additionally, early Europeans and Americans would make flour for baking by grinding down acorns. Oaks have been supplying us with hearty wood for centuries however, lesser known is that acorns and the bark of oaks have been used to treat inflammation and diarrhea. Oaks, classified in the genus Quercus, have an approximated 600 species across the world, 56 of which are native to North America, and 21 of which are native in Missouri. This can lead to splits in the trunk and broken branches.Oak Tree And Sun History of Human Use of Oaks Feeding the tree to encourage fast growth weakens the wood. Keep in mind that oak trees grow very slowly at first. Even then, only use fertilizer if the leaves are pale, or the tree is not growing as it should. The tree won’t develop strong roots in dry soil.ĭon’t fertilize the tree until its second year after planting. Keep the area surrounding young oak trees free of weeds and water the soil around the tree in the absence of rain. Keep the tree protected until it is at least 5 feet (1.5 m.) tall. Place cages over newly planted saplings and replace them with chicken wire fences as the sapling grows. Oak Tree CareĮarly on, oak tree saplings are in danger of being consumed by wildlife. If you prefer to plant the acorns directly in the ground, take care to protect them from wildlife. If you only have one seedling in the pot, you can keep it indoors in a sunny window for up to three months. Transplant the seedlings to a permanent location when the first leaves unfurl. You can plant several acorns in each pot. Remove molded acorns and leave the bag open to allow fresh air in if you see signs of mold.įill pots that are at least 12 inches (31 cm.) deep with potting soil. Leave them for eight weeks, checking every two weeks or so to make sure they aren’t molding. You don’t want the sawdust or peat moss soaking wet, just lightly damp. Place the red oak acorns in a zipper bag with moist sawdust or peat moss. White oak acorns are ready for planting right after soaking, but red oak acorns need a special treatment called stratification. Damaged and immature seeds float to the top, and you can scoop them off and discard them. Soak the acorns in a container of water overnight. Go ahead and remove them during your visual inspection. The caps of mature acorns come off easily. Visually examine your acorns and throw away any that have small holes where an insect may have bored in, as well as those that are off colored or moldy. Check the leaves to determine whether you are collecting white oak or red oak acorns and label the containers if you collect some of each. You might think you are collecting a lot more than you need, but the germination rates for acorns is low, so you need lots of extras. Wait until the second flush begins to fall, and then collect several handfuls. How to Grow an Oak Treeĭon’t gather the first acorns that fall. Here are the steps for growing oak trees from acorns. All you need is an acorn and a gallon (4 L.) pot filled with soil. Propagating oak trees is good for the environment and it’s an easy, fun project for kids. Red oak leaves have pointed lobes with little bristles at the tips, while the lobes on white oak leaves are rounded. You can tell which group an oak belongs to by taking a close look at the leaves. Propagating Oak Treesįor convenience, the many species of oak are divided into two main groups: red oaks and white oaks. You can help the tree recover its former glory by starting and planting oak tree seedlings following the instructions in this article. The main cause of the decline is the value of acorns and young saplings as a food source for wildlife. Oak trees ( Quercus) are among the most common tree species found in forests, but their numbers are declining.
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