Description of the tree, its types and varieties
Oak is a tree belonging to the beech family. There are more than 500 varieties of this plant in the world. Among themselves, they differ in the shape of the crown and leaves, as well as in the color of the fruit. However, each variety has its own general characteristics that indicate its belonging to the genus.
These include:
- The size. Dwarf oak trees do not exist in nature. All individuals have a height of 25 m to 45 m.
- Durability. The trees live for about 500 years.
- Leaves. The structure of the leaves depends on the variety. It can be lobed, pinnate, toothed, etc.
All members of this family have acorns as fruits.
The most common varieties of oak trees are:
- Petiolate (common). Planting oak of this variety is most common in Russia and Western Europe. The plant is included in the Red Book and has the status of "Least Threat".
- Mongolian. It has an attractive appearance, therefore it is popular with landscape designers. In Russia, it is often found in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories.
- Swamp. This representative grows up to 25 m in height. The pyramidal crown, smooth greenish-brown bark, lobed leaves - all these features characterize the appearance of this variety.
- Chestnut-leaved. Grows in northern Iran and the Caucasus. Reaches up to 30 m in height. It has a tent-like crown and wide leaves.
- Rocky. Distributed throughout Europe. Able to withstand severe frosts and thrive in a wide variety of soils.
The easiest way to plant and grow at home is a pedunculate oak. Acorns are harvested in the autumn, when the tree sheds its foliage.
Maturation cycle
Oak is a tree that belongs to an evergreen species of plants. Its crown may not change for several years. Nevertheless, there are breeds in which the leaves fall off with the onset of the first frost. The inflorescences of the tree are unisexual, small. It should be noted that the crown cover during pollination is poorly developed. Strong flowers are only female, male earrings can fall off at the slightest breath of wind. It is noteworthy that oak is a tree, for pollination of which scales of two sexes are needed at once. Ripening of the fruit takes place in a roller, which is a small saucer. Subsequently, an acorn grows in it. Each oak species has different fruits and shape of the roller. In some species, acorns are elongated, in others they are round and small, in others they are nut-like. It is allowed to cross breeds, but this is likely to lead to a noticeable decrease in yield.
The tree grows extremely slowly, but it can live for hundreds of years. The root system is formed during the first year, then it constantly develops. It is interesting that after a cut of an oak tree, after a while, powerful shoots sprout abundantly from the stump. Oak is a tree that is not too demanding on the soil, so the soil can be anything. Natural reproduction occurs by acorns. The height of the oak varies up to 40-45 meters. The volume of the crown depends on the breed and climate.
Breeding methods, cultivation
The oak tree is capable of propagating by cuttings or by planting acorns. Cuttings taken from adults practically do not root. For this reason, the material is taken from annual plants.You need to have time to plant them from June to July.
If you want to have a garden oak on your site, then the easiest way to grow it is from an acorn. Fruits are harvested from September to October. You need to plant acorns immediately after harvesting, otherwise they will dry out and will not be able to take root.
If the autumn is hot, then the fruits should be watered. To protect against rodents, the beds are covered with spruce branches. To properly plant acorns, you must follow all the recommendations regarding this process.
Preparing an acorn
In order for a gardener to be able to grow an oak at home, he must choose the right fruit. In the process of assembling oak acorns, it is necessary to ensure that they are intact. Greenish brown fruits are ideal for planting. However, for germination, only those specimens are selected that are easily separated from the cap, which performs an exclusively protective function.
After collecting the material, empty samples should be taken. For this, acorns are poured into water and monitored. Those that stay afloat and do not drown can be thrown away. In such specimens, either mold or rot is present inside.
Those acorns that have passed the test are dried, and they proceed to stratification.
Germination
When the acorns are completely dry, they must be germinated by stratification. To do this, the fruits are placed in a plastic bag and sawdust and moss are added to it. The bag is tightly closed and stored for about 90 days in a cool place. For example, in the cellar or in the refrigerator. During this time, the bag should be opened regularly to let in some oxygen.
In addition, you need to carefully monitor the humidity. In conditions of high humidity, acorns will begin to rot. However, under optimal conditions, they will begin to germinate after 3 months. The next stage is planting oak sprouts on the ground.
Planting
To plant sprouted acorns, it is necessary to prepare plastic cups with a diameter of about 5 cm. The first step is to sort the fruits from rotten and non-sprouted specimens. After that, the roots are carefully placed in cups with earth, which is collected near the "parent" oak.
The seedlings planted in cups are first watered abundantly. In order for excess liquid to flow out, small holes are made in the containers. It is necessary to plant roots in open ground after their rhizome is finally formed. If you plant young roots in the ground, without waiting for their strengthening, then the plants will be eaten by rodents.
To plant an oak tree, you need to make sure it is ready for replanting. To do this, you need to monitor its condition. If the height of the seedling is 15 cm, and the roots look strong and healthy, then you can start the planting process. This is most often done in the fall.
Bloom
Since the large oak is a long-lived plant, a young oak begins to bear fruit only at 20-30 years of age. Although the tree bears fruit every year, a bountiful harvest is obtained every four to five years.
A large oak blooms in spring immediately after the leaves appear on it. The plant has both male and female flowers. The male ones can be identified by the pale pink color of the flowers, which are collected in two or three pieces in long earrings. After the catkins bloom, the pollen released by it is viable for four to five days.
The female flowers are small, located above the male ones, they are characterized by a greenish tint with a crimson color around the edges, and, like the male ones, are collected in small earrings.
The fruit of the plant, the acorn, which botanists believe is a nut, consists of one large seed. Since it is very sensitive to external influences, it is protected by a rigid pericarp and a cup-shaped cupule (a special formation of accrete leaves), which at first completely surrounds the seed,and as the fruit grows and becomes stronger, it turns out to be at its base. Acorns ripen by the fall and, breaking away from the plush, fall down. Most germinate immediately, without waiting for the arrival of spring, while, if the winter is harsh, then many die.
Planting and caring for oak seedlings
Growing young oak is a process that requires a lot of attention.
During the autumn planting of oak, the fruits are buried 7-10 cm in the ground. After that, the acorns are covered with a moisture-proof material. This is done in order to protect oak fruits from pests and heavy rainfall. If acorns are planted in a garden bed, then the distance between the grooves should be 10-30 cm.
As for the soil for oak, it is best if it is fertile with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction of the environment. As fertilizers for oak, biostimulants are used, which help the seedlings to overcome the "stress" of transplanting.
Selection of seedlings
Many gardeners, instead of growing acorns, prefer to plant ready-made oak seedlings immediately, since they take root with 100% probability.
When choosing seedlings, the gardener should take a look at their age. Plants 1-2 years old are considered to be the most surviving plants. Before transplanting oak seedlings, they are carefully examined for dry roots.
Site selection and landing features
Oak should be planted in open ground in a brightly lit and spacious area, a few meters from residential buildings. The land at the planting site should be fertile.
The landing hole is prepared in advance, one month before the landing date. The depth of the pit cannot be less than 80 cm. Before replanting the oak, it is necessary to fill the drainage layer at the bottom of the hole, consisting of broken brick and stones.
The dug soil is mixed with fertilizers based on rotted manure, ash and lime. One part of the mixture is poured into the hole, and the other is left to powder the seedling. After the completion of the process, the soil is tamped and then watered.
Care of a young oak tree
For the first few years, the seedling will take root, so it must be carefully looked after and fertilized. Immediately after planting, it is watered abundantly for a week. In autumn and winter, watering is reduced.
Oak feeding is carried out 1 time in 2-3 years. For this, mineral granular fertilizers are used.
After 3 years, it is allowed to make the first pruning of the tree. There are many pruning options, each with its own benefits. Each gardener independently chooses the shape and method of pruning, focusing on their preferences.
To prevent fungal diseases, the plant is regularly sprayed with fungicides.
Winter protection
An oak planted in the country must be covered for the winter in order to protect it from the cold and raids of rodents. To do this, the trunk circle is covered with dry leaves and straw. After that, the branches of the tree are bent over to the trunk and covered with several layers of burlap.
The material is allowed to be removed from the tree in spring, as soon as the weather is warm outside. The branches will begin to reach out to the sun and absorb its energy. If you plant a tree in an open and sunny area, then over time it will turn into a mighty giant.
Resource usage
In most cases, oaks are used in construction and cooking, as well as in light industry. Corks and furniture are made from sawdust. The wood is ideal for surface vessels, fortifications, machinery, barrel making. Boards do not swell, burn poorly, are distinguished by their strength, hardness and density. When oak leaves bloom and acorns ripen, it is time for cooks. In North America, the fruit of the tree is often added to coffee, candy and the most sophisticated dishes. In Asia, acorns are used fried with spices.
How fast can an oak grow to form a beautiful crown?
For placement near the house, oak is a reliable tree due to its hardwood, although its roots can rot if poisoned with any toxic substance. Therefore, in general, in case of drying out of any tree near the buildings, you should not wait long, but you must immediately cut it down.
An oak grows from a seedling into a tall handsome man faster than it might seem. Biologists it is believed that in nature oak grows for only 18-25 days a year, this happens in May – June, after which everything that has managed to grow during this time (shoots about 10–25 cm long) slowly matures, getting ready to meet winter. but when applying nitrogen-containing fertilizers, such as slurry or herbal fertilizer, the growth period of young oak trees is greatly lengthened, and they give increments of 70 cm or more over the summer (you just need to remember that oak easily gets sick with powdery mildew, so there should still be a reasonable limit in the introduction of easily digestible fertilizers).
The first couple of years after planting, the oak will "sway", and then its growth rate is commensurate with the growth of an apple tree. Thus, a successfully planted "nest" of oak trees will quickly acquire a magnificent shape. It is only necessary to take into account that the oak belongs to difficult-to-take root plants, it does not tolerate a transplant, therefore it is necessary to plant a lot of seedlings at once, on the basis that a few of them will grow well.
A giant oak in France, in the hollow of which there is a room with a bench carved directly into the body of an oak for more than two thousand years. It is because of their age and gigantic size that many oaks have become relics of cities and peoples and are under protection. Tsar oak, Kaiser oak, 600-year-old oak, chapel oak, pansky oak, each of them has legends.
