Growing an oak for the garden

Growing an oak for the garden

Pulling an oak tree from an acorn

You can pick acorns straight from the tree in autumn. Ripe acorns have:

  • Smooth brown-green color
  • Solid shell
  • No wormholes
  • No cracks or other injuries
  • The glans can be easily removed from the cap

also read

  • Grow an oak tree as a bonsai tree
  • Acorns are the fruit of the oak tree
  • Planting an acorn - this is how the fruit becomes a tree

To see if the glans is healthy, put it in the water bath. Germable fruits sink to the bottom.

Sow acorns

Acorns will only germinate if kept in cold temperatures for several weeks. Put them in the freezer bag in the refrigerator.

After about seven weeks, plant the cooled acorns in a pot or directly in the desired location in the garden.

If you plant them outdoors, you must provide protection as acorns are often eaten by mice and squirrels.

Getting seedlings out of the forest

An alternative way to grow an oak tree is to dig up fresh seedlings in the forest.

To do this, go on a search in spring.

Carefully dig up seedlings that have developed two or three leaves. Do not damage the long taproot, because then the seedling will not grow.

Choosing the right location

If you plant the acorn in the garden, you ensure a good location

An oak needs a lot of space and grows particularly well in a sunny location.

Be aware that later transplanting can damage the tree. The bigger it gets, the more difficult it is to completely dig up the taproot.

Maintain oak tree

An oak tree doesn't need a lot of maintenance. With young trees, you should remove the weeds so that the oak tree gets enough light.

A mulch cover prevents the soil from drying out too much. This is no longer necessary with older trees.

Tips & Tricks

No other tree or shrub provides a livelihood for so many insects, bugs and butterflies as the oak. By growing an oak tree in the garden, you create a natural plant protection for your ornamental and useful plants.

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