Reproduction of oak
There are two ways to propagate an oak tree:
- from the cutting;
- from an acorn.
In the first case, it is necessary to take care of the development of the root system of the cutting to the required size. Of course, this method has an advantage in time, the tree will grow several years earlier. However, there is no guarantee that it will be accepted in a new location.
In the second case, the process will be delayed for several years. However, the chances of achieving a positive result are much greater.
Growing oak tree care
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The tree requires special care after planting. A young plant often becomes food for rodents, insects, and animals. It is recommended to take some measures to protect the seedlings from external influences. To protect them from uninvited guests, you should put a fence made of mesh or plastic. We'll have to build a fence even around the crown in those areas where deer live. Pesticides will help with parasites and beetles.
Picking acorns in an oak grove
The trees have a long root system that draws moisture from the depths. Watering must be stopped in the autumn and winter seasons. But in the summer, you will need abundant hydration. Gardeners advise using drip irrigation even. You should take care of the growing plant constantly. When the tree becomes an adult, only timely watering and periodic pest control are needed.
Interesting! All trees have a special energy that feeds a person. Oak allows you to clarify the mind and gain clarity of thought for people engaged in mental work, giving reports.
Subsequent development of the seedling
Two months after planting the plant, the first shoots begin to appear in the soil, and later the leaves on them. Those seedlings that grew in one container need picking. Fortified young oaks are placed in larger pots so that the trunk and rhizome are formed correctly.
Attention! It is recommended to take the flowerpot outside from time to time so that the plant gradually adapts to natural conditions.
Features of caring for a young oak in the garden
The seedling has a weak rhizome for the first two years, so it requires regular watering in the warm season. Additionally, loosening of the soil, weeding is carried out. In the second year, you can use fertilizing for young oak in the form of mineral fertilizers. They consist of essential trace elements that have a beneficial effect on the development of the seedling and its root system. It is better to purchase top dressing in a specialized store.
Watering a tree in dry weather
The root of the plant curling under the ground is able to germinate and extract moisture from the depths, even with a dry surface. The tree is not watered in winter and in rainy weather. Young oak trees need water during extreme heat. The best option is a drip irrigation system. Spraying should take about 30 liters of water for 1.5-2 weeks.
Important! The system is installed so that the liquid falls on the area around the oak and not on its trunk.
The process of sprouting an oak from an acorn takes quite a long time, but it is simple and interesting. From a small seedling, you can get a beautiful and huge tree.The beginner or professional gardener has the opportunity to observe the life cycle of a green plantation. Therefore, each of them should know how to grow an oak from an acorn at home and all breeding methods.
Acorn selection
Before planting an acorn oak, it is important to find a healthy, large, mature tree for selection of planting material. In the fall, ripe acorns fall off along with the leaves. Several dozen acorns are picked up. It is important that they are intact, without any damage. When shaking, the inner core should not bump against the shell walls.
You should also pick up fallen leaves and fertile soil. This will help preserve the material. Arriving home, the acorns are dipped into the water, we throw out the emerging specimens. Only those are left that remain at the bottom of the container after several checks.
Seed preparation
The easiest way to grow an oak is from an acorn, rather than from a cuttings. For cultivation, you must choose the healthiest and strongest acorns. Since not all seeds are highly germinable, and at the time of planting, all seedlings take root to the ground, it is necessary to take several hundred good acorns.
The growing process is slow, but interesting and entertaining enough for any hobby gardener. From the beginning of germination to planting on the street, it can take about three years.
It is better to start collecting seeds in early autumn, before the onset of cold weather. It is desirable that the cap can be easily removed from the acorn, which means that it has matured well. Listen and tap the acorn to determine the living core, there should be no sound! You can postpone the selection of seeds until spring, but then they will dry out a little and the percentage of germination will decrease.
In either case, choose only whole fruits, rotten or wormy ones will not germinate, it is easier to throw them out than waste time and energy. Selected seeds must be soaked in a cup of water, rejecting all floating elements. Then blot the selected acorns with a towel and dry.
Important!
Already in the summer, while walking in the park, pay attention to the thickest and most beautiful oak crowns in order to understand: where in spring or autumn it is better to collect the source material for germination.
Wintering an acorn
A glass jar is taken. The above foliage and soil are placed in it and mixed thoroughly. Acorns are placed in the middle of the container and covered with this soil. The jar does not close tightly, it must breathe.
The material is placed in a refrigerator and stored at a temperature of 2 degrees Celsius throughout the winter.
How to grow an oak from an acorn.
In terms of gardening projects, there is little that beats the duration of a project to grow your own spreading oak from an acorn! Fortunately, cultivating oak trees is simple enough and incredibly rewarding. It also provides a memorable opportunity for you and your family to grow up next to a tree that, small at first, will eventually become a massive accent in your surroundings, and this gift will be passed on to future generations.
... As it grows, you have the opportunity to take an active part in the natural beauty of the tree's life cycle. Note that ideally this process should start in late summer or early fall.
1 harvest acorns in early fall.
Acorns are best harvested before mid-fall, before they fall from the trees.
Choose acorns that are free of worms, holes, and mold. Suitable acorns should be brownish with a slight green tinge, although the appearance of acorns differs depending on the type of oak they are grown on. As a rule, the ones that are easy to remove from the cap are best for collection. Please note that the hat is not part of the acorn, but a (separate) protection of some kind.Removing the acorn from the cap does not damage it, unless you break the acorn itself. If possible, find suitable trees in the summer. You need a mature tree with acorns that can be easily reached with a ladder or long stick.
In some varieties of oak, such as red oak, acorns mature in two years rather than one.
If you are looking for a suitable tree in the summer, remember this - acorns on some oaks will ripen by autumn, while others will not be ready until next year.
2 do the Floating test.
Place the collected acorns in a bucket of water. Wait a couple of minutes. Throw away any acorns that are left floating - they are spoiled.
In the event that at any time you notice that the acorn is soft to the touch, throw it away too. Soft, shapeless acorns, rotten inside.
3. Enter the remaining acorns into hibernation.
Remove the "Good" acorns from the water and dry them. Place them in a large resealable bag filled with dry wood chips, vermiculite, a moss mixture, or a growth medium that can retain moisture. A particularly large bag should hold up to 250 acorns. Put the bag in the refrigerator for a month and a half, or as long as necessary for the new oak to germinate.
This process is known as stratification, which in simple terms means cold exposure to seeds, mimicking the natural conditions in which the seed falls when it falls to the ground. This starts the seed germination process in spring. Check acorns periodically. The culture medium should only be slightly moist. If it is too wet - acorns can rot, if too dry - they may not grow.
4 watch your acorns grow.
Even when stored in the refrigerator, most acorns will start to germinate in a humid environment. The root tip may begin to break through the shell around early December (late autumn, early winter. Whether the root has sprouted or not, the acorns are ready to plant after 40-45 days of storage. Handle your seedlings carefully - the protruding roots are easily damaged.
5 plant each acorn in a pot or container.
Find small (5 cm) garden pots (or large plastic cups or milk bags if you prefer) for your plants. Fill them with good quality garden soil (some sources advise adding crushed peat moss. For watering, leave about 2 centimeters empty on top. Plant your acorn shallow under the surface, root down.
In case you are using plastic glasses or milk bags, poke holes in the sides at the bottom of the glass so that the water can drain out. If you want, you can also try just burying the acorn in the garden. Dig in the root and gently press one side of the acorn into a suitable rich, soft soil. This will work, attention, only if the root is already well developed, long and well off the acorn. Please note - this way the seedlings will be defenseless against mice, squirrels, etc.
6 water your seedlings.
Water your plant until water flows out of the holes at the bottom of the container. Water frequently in the following weeks, without letting the soil dry out. Keep your seedlings indoors during this period. Place it on a sill by the south window so that it can soak up the winter sun. You will not immediately notice the rapid growth. This is because at this stage in their life, plants develop a main root under the soil surface. Only if you live in the southern hemisphere, put your seedlings on the windowsill by the north window.
7 watch the growth of the plant.
Gardeners advise in different ways what to do next - some advise transplanting seedlings directly into open ground after several weeks of growing in a pot, others advise gradually increasing the time the plant is outside before planting it in open ground.It is also advised to transplant the seedlings into a larger pot so that they grow even more and only then plant them in the ground. While there is no single correct way to determine when seedlings can be planted outdoors, there are signs that will indicate to you that they are ready to be transplanted. Suitable transplant candidate: Approximately 10-15 centimeters high with small leaves. It has healthy looking, white roots. Has clearly outgrown my pot. The main root has grown well. Its age is from several weeks to several months.
8 select a landing site.
Location means a lot - choose a location for your oak tree that has enough room to grow and won't be inconvenient when the tree grows large. When choosing a location for your oak tree, there are several things to consider: Availability of sunlight. Like all photosynthetic plants, oak trees need sunlight to live, so don't plant them in shady areas. A place away from paths, plumbing, pipelines in the ground, etc. You don't want to kill your tree if you have to do any gardening work. The shadow that a mature tree will cast. Only if you want a tree to provide shade for your home, plant it on the west or southwest side of your home to increase shade in the summer and decrease it in the winter. Keep in mind that in the southern hemisphere, the tree should be planted on the west or northwest side of your home for shade. Vegetation nearby. Plants compete with each other for sun, moisture, and other resources. Do not plant your oak in a place where many other plants are already growing, or it may not grow to adulthood.
9 prepare the landing site.
Once you have chosen a suitable location for your tree, remove the sod in a circle about 1 meter in diameter. Use a shovel to dig up the soil to a depth of about 25 centimeters, breaking up large lumps. If the soil is dry, wet it yourself or wait until the rain has passed before planting your tree. Dig a hole. In the middle of your meter circle, dig a hole 6-90 centimeters deep and 30 centimeters wide. The exact depth of your pit depends on the length of your seedling's main root - it needs to be large enough to fit.
10 transplant your oak tree.
With the roots down and leaves up, gently place your oak tree in the prepared hole. Make sure the depth is enough for the oak root to fit. Cover with earth and tamp lightly. Water after transplanting. Tamp the soil around the oak sapling, tilting away from the sapling so that water does not get trapped near the tree trunk - this can damage it. Spread mulch or pieces of bark in a circle about 30 centimeters from the tree to keep the soil moist and prevent weeds from sprouting. Make sure it doesn't touch the stem of the tree. To increase the chances of a successful transplant, you should plant several acorns in one place. In this case, plant your acorn sprouts directly into the ground, clearing an area of 60 by 60 centimeters and place two acorns on this area, covering with a layer of earth 2-5 centimeters thick.
11 protect your oaks.
Oaks - especially young and tender - are a food source for many herbivores. Mice and squirrels like to eat acorns, which can easily dig them up. Small seedlings are defenseless against rabbits, deer and other animals that feed on leaves. To make sure your trees are not destroyed, take steps to protect them. Place netting mesh or a sturdy plastic fence around the tree trunk to prevent animals from reaching them.Therefore, if you live in an area with deer, you should also protect the crown of the tree with a net. You may need to use pesticides to protect your tree from a variety of insects, including aphids and may beetles. Be careful when choosing pesticides - only use those that will not harm your tree and your family members.
12 Water trees in dry weather.
The long root of the oak allows it to extract moisture from the depths even when the soil on the surface is completely dry. During the winter and rainy months, your oaks usually do not need to be watered. However, when the oaks are still young, they can suffer from hot and dry weather. Installing a drip irrigation system is a good way to get water to young trees when they need it most. Spend about 30 liters of water on drip irrigation in one to two weeks. Irrigation during the hottest and driest months will be required in the first two years; as the tree grows, the irrigation intensity can be reduced. Remember, water should not be allowed to collect around the tree trunk. Set up your irrigation system so that water will drip around the tree, but not directly onto the trunk, where it can cause rot.
As it grows, the tree will need less and less care. As your oak grows and its roots go deeper, you will need to care less and less about it. Eventually, it will grow large and tall enough for the animals to be unable to destroy it, and the roots will become deep enough to survive the summer without watering. Gradually, over the years, reduce the amount of care you take for your tree (which is nothing other than watering during the dry months and protecting from animals. Over time, your tree will be able to thrive on its own without any signs of exhaustion. Enjoy the gift for yourself and your family) that will stay with you for life! After 20 years, your oak tree may start bearing its own acorns, but it depends on the specific tree. Optimal growth of acorns may not occur even after 50 years.
Advice. Even small oak trees shed their leaves in the fall, so don't be discouraged if the leaves on your tree turn yellow and fall off. Just wait for spring. Stick a stick with a protective net around the seedling in the ground to prevent animals from eating it. Examine the tree from which you collect acorns - it should be beautiful and healthy. Only if the parent tree has problems - choose another, better
Preparing material for planting
It's time to consider how to grow an oak tree. Before planting, 90 days in advance, the acorns must be removed from the storage, wiped with a dry cloth, and an external examination must be made for possible damage. They are placed in a humid environment (a jar of wet sphagnum) and refrigerated until the roots break through.
Majestic oak: varieties and cultivation features
The genus oak belongs to the beech family and contains about 600 species. These include evergreen and deciduous trees. The Latin name of the family comes from the Greek language and means "rough".
Representatives of the oak family can be found in East Asia, North America, even in a greater variety of species than in Europe. This is due to the fact that even during the glaciers, the glacier was advancing from the north, and most of the plants “retreated” to the south. But the Alps became a natural barrier. In North America, frost-sensitive plants survived only in a southerly direction, but are still found today.
Oaks are trees with a height of 20-30 m. Some species can be even higher - more than 50 m. But a small number of species are shrubs or very low shrubs that cover the ground with a carpet, and their height rarely exceeds 2-3 meters.
Oaks are monoecious plants, their leaves and flowers appear at the same time - in May.Male oak flowers are collected in unusual inflorescences in the form of thin, long yellow-green hanging earrings, which are somewhat reminiscent of hazel earrings, hanging in large bunches from the branches, in color, practically not differing from young foliage, which are located on the lower part of the shoots ... Female, pistillate flowers are small in size, located one by one or, in some species, 2-3 at the top of the shoot. Subsequently, in September or early October, acorns appear from the female flowers.
Oak is one of the most majestic and magnificent trees, renowned for its solidity and durability. According to the ancient Roman scientist Pliny, age-old oaks were even recognized as a wonder of the world, whose age was compared with the age of the universe itself.
In Russia, in the middle zone, the English oak is the most widespread - the most important forest-forming species in Western Europe and the European part of Russia. At a low height, branches begin to depart from the trunk. Oaks love sunlight, and their branches are massive, twisted, and have bizarre curves.
In North America, rich in deciduous forests, there are many varieties of oaks, which, due to their unique decorative properties and unpretentiousness to adverse conditions, are widely used in landscaping.
Planting an acorn
For a young sprout, fertile soil rich in nutrients is essential. It is important to plant it in moist soil taken from under the mother tree.
A large disposable cup is taken, several holes are made in its bottom for drainage. Then it is filled with prepared soil. In which we carefully place the sprouted acorn to a depth of 3 cm. Cover the glass with damp gauze and place it on the windowsill.
Conditions for growing a tree
All varieties of oak, despite some external difference, can grow under certain conditions. Many of them hate shaded areas and prefer sunny ones. Only stone oak can grow in the shade of other trees. It is important to know that the root system, the crown of oak can reach enormous sizes, destroying even nearby buildings, sidewalk or concrete paths. The power of the roots can damage the foundation of a house. Therefore, when planning the planting of a tree, this must be taken into account.
The best place for the "giant" will be the far corner of the garden, where you can arrange a recreation area for the whole family.
For oak, moist soils with a normal acidity level are suitable. Sour soil is dangerous for them, because of this, a deciduous tree cannot coexist with coniferous specimens. And the earth hidden by fallen needles will not be able to provide a deciduous tree with sufficient moisture and nutrients.
Almost all types of oak can easily tolerate low temperatures, but spring frosts often kill white and marsh oak seedlings. All this must be taken into account when buying a young tree. Fertile soils, more sunshine, space - these are the main conditions that are suitable for a giant oak.
Transplanting a seedling
In the first 10 years, the oak grows up to 35 cm per year, then its growth slows down. With its growth of 15 cm, when the stem has already formed and the first leaves have appeared, it must be transplanted to a new permanent place.
Any transplant is stressful and must be approached in stages. First of all, in the spring, we take out the pot with the seedling outside for a few minutes. Every day this time doubles until the plant can be outside around the clock.
Care tips: watering, feeding, pruning
Caring for an oak tree is not particularly difficult:
- The regularity of watering is determined by the dryness of summer or spring. If the drought period is long, then a bucket of water is poured into the square meter of the crown projection. Watering is especially important for young plants in extreme heat.
- Feed the tree twice.At the beginning of spring, a kilogram of mullein, ten grams of urea, twenty grams of ammonium nitrate are bred in ten liters of water and the area of the root circle is watered. In September, no more than twenty grams of nitrophosphate is introduced.
- Weeds are constantly removed near the tree and the soil is loosened to a depth of twenty-five centimeters.
- Crown pruning is carried out in autumn or early spring, during the dormant period, removing dried branches. In this case, the air temperature should not be lower than minus five degrees, otherwise the tree will freeze. The procedure is necessary to clean the trunk from top shoots. The crown of the tree is also formed by pruning. In the fall, 2-3 axial branches in the center of the crown are cut out to the trunk, shortening the side ones. On thick branches, the cuts are treated with garden varnish or natural paint. In spring, the oak will delight with a spherical crown, and the height of the tree will decrease. If it is necessary to suspend the growth of a giant in height, then the apical bud is cut off, making a pinching of the central shoot. In red oak, it is necessary to remove thin shoots with a diameter of six centimeters.
Caring for an oak tree is simple, does not require either material or time costs.
Planting a seedling in a natural environment
When the plant has adapted to its natural environment, it is time to transplant it to a permanent place. It is important to understand that the oak grows quite large, and it needs a free area within a radius of 10 meters. There should not be permanent buildings nearby, as its roots will raise them over time.
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A hole is dug with a depth and diameter of 0.5 meters and covered with a fertile layer of earth from under the mother liquor tree or enriched with rotted humus.
A seedling is planted along with the land in which it grew. Dense is compacted and poured abundantly with water. Mulch is laid around the seedling within a radius of 30 cm.
The best varieties of oak for the site
The resistance of the tree to unfavorable climatic conditions is known. After all, he is not afraid of gusty winds, crackling frosts, severe drought. Among the best varieties of oak for planting in the garden, you can choose the following:
- The white oak has a spreading crown, forming a lush tent. Decorative appearance in the colors of wide leaves. When opening, the leaves on the branches are painted in bright red, in summer they are light green, and on the back side they are almost white. In the autumn months, the tree pleases with dark red foliage. The variety is not suitable for areas with severe frosts.
- A slender tree - swamp oak - reaches a height of twenty-five meters. Its pyramidal crown with young hanging shoots will decorate even a small area. The plant grows rapidly in moist, nutritious soils. Light green leaves, similar to wide lobes, take on a purple hue in autumn.
- Stone oak has a high resistance to frost. The leaves of this species are decorative - narrow, curly, yellow-variegated, ovoid. To match the shape of the leaves and crown. Tree varieties are suitable for creating hedges, alleys. They look great in group and single plantings.
- The homeland of red oak is the north of the American continent, so it easily tolerates cold. The decorativeness of the tree consists in a spherical crown, reddish leaves, thin, with pointed blades.
- The English oak is most widespread in European forests. This powerful handsome man can reach fifty meters in length. Its dark green leaves, together with branches, form a wide crown.The longevity of the species is striking, the age of some specimens reaches thousands of years. Among the varieties of the pedunculate oak, there are plants with a vertical, pyramidal crown with low growth.
For a large area of the site, you can choose giants with a tent-shaped crown. For small areas, small slender oaks are suitable. But all of them will ennoble the recreation area, the alleys leading to the house.
Bonsai acorn oak
If you want to decorate your home with an exotic tree, head to the forest or city park to find a mature oak tree. An acorn will be required, which must be alive, in no case dried out and without damage. The optimal solution is to choose a ready-made sprout with healthy fresh leaves. Its height should be no more than 15 cm.
After a month and a half, you can judge whether the seedling has taken root or not. If the labors are crowned with success, it is advisable to proceed with the external ennobling of the tree. First of all, attention is paid to the trunk. You will need a wire, which is wrapped around the oak in one turn and fixed to the invisible part of the dishes. The wire is stretched slightly to shape the tree into a bend. It is pulled up only when the plant is leaning back.
Water once a month! As soon as the young twigs sprout, a bonsai crown should be formed. The extra branches are cut off with a clerical knife, and the remaining ones are bent with a wire, under which a fabric base is placed so as not to disturb the bark. To give the tree a knotty, the bark is cut off with a blade, just not in a circle. A bonsai oak tree needs good lighting.
Instructions for cultivating seedlings
In order to germinate oak acorns at home, you need to choose the right container for planting. It is best to buy a pot or container for this purpose. Then the following sequence of actions must be observed:
Fill the container with good soil. For watering purposes, leave about 2.5 cm of space at the top.- Plant the acorn just below the surface, with the root pointing down.
- After that, you need to water the seedlings and pour water until it pours out of the holes in the bottom of the container. In the following weeks, you need to take care of plant nutrition, not allowing the soil to dry out.
- Small oak trees should be placed on the windowsill, where there will be continuous access to the winter sun. Initially, the ground rises by about 1 cm, this is because the plant begins to develop its root below the surface of the mud.
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Flower pests and diseases
Many pests gladly settle on chrysanthemum bushes. Among them aphids, leaf rollers, slugs, snails, caterpillars, nematodes... Ash, dry mustard, herbal infusions, chemicals such as "Healthy Garden" will help you get rid of them in time. The same methods help the plant with diseases of powdery mildew, leaf spot, rust, chlorosis.
Common diseases of Dubka (Korean chrysanthemum)
Usually, many diseases develop with a lack of magnesium. In this case use Uniflor-butonour, Fitosporin, Zircon... Fungal diseases appear on plants with a constant excess of moisture.
An attentive attitude to chrysanthemums allows you to realize the most beautiful, long-blooming options for decorating the site. In late autumn, when all the work is completed, it is pleasant to think about new plans for the next season. surrounded by bright, beautiful flowers.
Tips for Beginners
If you want to get a spectacular knotty - selectively cut off the bark with a razor blade. Cross-cuts in different parts of the trunk will inhibit the growth of the tree. Cover the sections with garden pitch. In order for the crown to grow in width, leave only the horizontal branches. Cover the roots with moss to avoid drying out the soil. Moisturize as needed.
Seasonal Care Tips:
- Cut the leaves in half at the end of July every 3 years. This will avoid dissonance with the small size of the tree. Over time, they themselves will become small.
- In the fall, after the plant has shed its foliage, place it on a balcony or other cool place. Remove the wire. Leave the tree in cold conditions for the winter, stop watering. In order for the roots to survive the winter successfully, cover them with fallen leaves, moss.
Germination
After the seeds begin to germinate, the root tip will slowly begin to break through the acorn's shell. At this time, you need to handle it carefully so as not to damage the young root, otherwise all the work was in vain.
Once the oak seeds have sprouted a little in a plastic bag, they need to be transplanted into small pots, as for normal seedlings. This requires:
- In containers for planting, make small holes on the sides so that excess water can drain off during watering.
- Fill the planting container with ordinary soil with the addition of a small amount of peat.
- Plant sprouted seeds with the root down, but shallow.
Water the planting material so that water drains from the holes on the sides 2-3 times a week for a month. It is better to place seedlings in a well-lit place.
