How to grow an acorn oak at home

How to grow an oak from an acorn at home? Surely more than one summer resident asked such a question, because a mighty and perennial tree is very hardy, requires a minimum of attention and can please more than one generation.

Preparing material for planting

Success in such a difficult task directly depends on the planting material, so it is important to choose the right acorn. To do this, you should follow the step-by-step recommendations of experienced gardeners:

• the acorn is plucked in mid-autumn, until the oak fruits begin to crumble;
• it should be brown with a slight green tint, without mold and wormholes;
• for germination, it is better to choose an acorn that easily separates from the cap. She is not part of it, but only serves as a protection for the fruits.

Photo of oak

Acorn selection

Not all acorns are ready to sprout and develop into a full-fledged healthy and strong tree. So how to germinate an acorn at home? For all dreams to come true, you need to choose the right fruit. To do this, you need to take several acorns and conduct a small experiment with them. You need to collect a bucket of water and pour acorns into it. After a few minutes, the fruits will drown, those that remain afloat can be thrown away, since they are useless to germinate. They do not drown only because a worm has gnawed them inside, or mold has attacked the fruit, and it is rotten inside.

Sprouted acorns

Drowned acorns are well dried, and then, together with moss or shavings, are placed in a tightly closed bag. It is placed in the refrigerator for 45 days or more, until the acorn begins to sprout.

The contents of the package should be checked regularly. The soil should be slightly damp. An excessively wet environment will lead to rotting of the fruit, and in dry soil it will not germinate.

After 1.5 months at the beginning of winter, roots will appear, and the fruits will need to be planted in a small container with a diameter of 5 cm.

Soil for oak

It is ideal for the sprout to dig up the soil that is near the mother tree. If this is not possible, you can take garden soil and add peat moss to it. They will help retain moisture.

In a pot with a sprout, there must be drainage holes through which excess moisture can escape. The planting material is placed no deeper than 5 cm. A damp cotton wool is placed on top and covered with glass, not forgetting about the holes through which air will flow.

Tree growth control

The seedling must be closely monitored. The fact that he is developing well and his work has been crowned with a positive result is evidenced by the following indicators:

• the seedlings have grown by 10 or 15 cm;
• small leaves appeared;
• the main healthy root has formed and small white roots are visible;
• it is visually visible that the tree has outgrown its pot.

Picking up oak seedlings

Oak seedlings, like many other plants, need picking (transplanting plants from a small pot to a large one). This process is important because it promotes better root development and strengthening.

Planting material into the ground

After choosing the landing site, they are taken for digging up the site. Well-loosened soil will provide the roots with decent air circulation and good water permeability.

It is also important to dig a hole in the correct size. Its parameters depend on the size of the main root. In most cases, the depth does not exceed 90 cm, and the diameter is 35 cm. The tree is planted in moist soil, therefore, the ground is watered before planting. When planting seedlings in the ground, the soil is compacted.

Oak seedlings

When breeding these giants, they are guided by three basic rules:

• in the process of tamping, they make a slope in the direction from the seedling, so that the water will not linger near the trunk of the oak, and the tree can be protected from damage;
• around the tree you need to mulch soil. For this, peat or tree bark are suitable. The radius of such a coating is about 30 cm. The bark will help to moisten and protect the plant from weeds;
• for belay, you can throw a few more acorns into the hole, which will ensure a successful landing. They are placed no deeper than 3 cm.

How to determine the readiness of seedlings to change the place

It is possible to determine that the seedlings are ready for planting by several indicators:

• the seedling has grown by no less than 15 cm and significantly exceeds the size of the pot;
• about 5 leaves formed on the tree;
• the root system is well formed;
• after the dive, at least 2 weeks have passed.

When can you plant seedlings in the soil

Young shoots are planted in the spring in pre-prepared holes. The bottom is covered with a drainage layer about 20 cm thick. Small stones or broken brick are suitable for this.

Site selection and landing features

The further development of the tree depends on the correct planting site. Therefore, when choosing a place, you need to take into account different indicators:

• illumination. The tree needs good sunlight to grow, so it doesn't need to be planted in the shade. The plant absorbs the energy of the sun and fully develops;
• lack of water supply, power lines and roads. It is very difficult to predict exactly how a tree can grow, and where its roots will go, so it is wiser to choose a place away from all kinds of communications. The distance from the house or some other buildings must be at least 3.5 m;
• exclude close proximity to plants. If there are other trees near the oak, it may not receive the required amount of nutrients. Poor growth and development will be the consequences. There must be a distance of at least 3 m between the oak and other plants.

Growing oak tree care

In the early days of a seedling in the fresh air, it may seem that it is unrealistic to grow an oak from an acorn at home. The plant will feel uncomfortable, because it will have to get used to new lighting, soil and space.

Young oak

However, if everything is done correctly, it will get stronger and begin to fully develop. The tree needs special care for the first three years. Then it will get stronger and be able to develop independently. For full and rapid growth, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• you need to provide a young seedling with protection from rodents, for which it is a real delicacy. It is worth building a small fence that will protect the tree from all sides;
• In addition to rodents, acorn sprouts can also be attacked by various insects. The most common oak leaflet, cap moth and large oak barbel. It is necessary to use pesticides that will protect the seedlings from these beetles;
• the first two weeks after planting, the seedling needs to be watered every day. Pour out a bucket of water at a time.

In winter, you need to take care of protecting trees from severe frosts and raids of hares, which like to profit from juicy young twigs. The soil near the tree should be covered with a mixture of dry leaves, humus and straw. Such a layer should be at least 10 cm thick. The branches of the tree are pressed down a little, closer to the trunk. Then it is covered with two bags. In the spring, the plant is opened, and it already straightens the branches on its own and raises them to the sunlight.

Subsequent development of the seedling

The tree will begin to grow stronger every year. It will need to be taken care of less and less, because the tree will become tall, animals will not be able to destroy it, and the powerful roots will go deep into the ground and will not need watering.

Features of caring for a young oak in the garden

A young tree requires special attention:

• he needs regular loosening of the soil and the elimination of weeds, which will pull all the nutrients into himself;
• in the second year after planting, top dressing is carried out: nitrogen-containing additives are added in the spring, and nitroammofoska is added in early autumn;
• it is worth protecting the sprouts from fungal infection. Powdery mildew is especially dangerous for them. For this, for preventive purposes, they are treated with fungicides;
• in early spring, before sap flow has begun, they prune, forming a crown and eliminating damaged areas.

Powdery mildew on the leaves

Watering a tree in dry weather

Trees have large and strong roots, with the help of which they can easily extract water from the soil, even if it is completely dry on the surface. In winter and during the rainy season, young growth should not be watered. But in dry weather, it is wise to install an irrigation system. On hot days, the tree needs 30 liters of water for 14 days. During a drought, watering will be relevant for 2 years.

In addition to the fact that oak adorns summer cottages, it also brings many benefits. Oak bark is used to make medicines. It relieves inflammation in the mouth and helps relieve diarrhea. You can even plant truffles under this tree. Stone oak bears edible fruits, from which not only different dishes are prepared, but also aromatic coffee is brewed.

Growing a tree from an acorn is a difficult process, but possible if you follow the rules described above. The oak grows for a long time, but its mighty appearance is worth the wait for several years.