Adult oak is a tall stately tree with dense foliage and a solid trunk. No wonder he is a symbol of power, strength and knowledge from ancient times, as narrated by folk tales and works of the classic A.S. Pushkin.
In the modern world, oaks are planted in park and roadside zones, on a summer cottage, and even in a potted house, decorative bonsai is cultivated in a special way.
Growing oak in conditions close to home, and its subsequent transplantation to a summer cottage or house adjoining territory, will allow you to acquire your own tree of strength and wisdom, which will please the eye of more than one generation of observers.
What to grow a tree from
You can get a healthy and strong plant from any planting material - acorn or cuttings. In the first case, it will take more time, from the finished shoot a tall oak tree will grow 2-4 years earlier. The cuttings must be prepared, germinate its roots. However, there is no guarantee that such a seedling will take root. It is easier to grow an oak from an acorn, because this method is preferred. The growth rate in the first 2-3 years is much higher than subsequent years, so the process of monitoring the development will be a fascinating activity for small family members and amateur growers.
Acorn preparation
It is possible to grow oak from an acorn quickly if the preparation of planting material is carried out correctly.
The fruits are harvested in the fall, when the tree throws off the leaf and the acorns are fully ripe. In search of material sent to the deciduous forest. In Russia, more often than others, pedunculate oak is found; its other names are ordinary, summer or English. The plant is characterized by frequent branches, medium-sized leaves with rounded edges, brown-gray thick bark. The height of an adult is up to 40 meters.
There are 2 types of ordinary oak: winter and summer. In the summer, the leaves bloom in late spring in May-June, by autumn they hardly change color and fall until October. In winter, these processes occur 2-4 weeks later; by October, the leaves acquire a dark brown color and can remain on the branches until the next flowering.
Fallen oak fruits are suitable for germination. You need to listen to the acorn - shake it and determine if the core is alive in it (it should not flicker). From the gathering place you need to take a little fallen native foliage and the top layer of soil. They are necessary for preservation of the material until the moment of disembarkation.
At home, they again check the suitability of the material: cold water is poured into a basin and the fees are lowered there. The specimens that surfaced quickly to the surface are empty, nothing will grow out of them. Re-inspection is carried out after 5 minutes: those that have not surfaced are good raw materials for planting.
The most natural and favorable planting of a tree in the spring, for wintering, the fruits are sent to hibernation under conditions close to natural:
- Take a jar with a lid, in which there should be holes for ventilation;
- Put soil collected in it mixed with foliage;
- The acorn is placed in a "fur coat";
- They close the jar with a lid and put it in the cellar or refrigerator, where the temperature is not lower than + 2-30FROM.
Such "conservation" imitates wintering under a snowy crust and the seed is preserved in its original form.
Germination
How to grow oak from an acorn: the fascinating process of plant development begins.
Before planting the overwintered fruit in the ground, you need to sprout the roots. For this, closed "nuts" are placed in a humid environment, for example, in a bag with wet sphagnum, and left in the refrigerator for 90-120 days. How long rooting will take place depends on the type of tree.
When confident roots appear, the future seedling must be protected from mechanical damage.
If it was not possible to stock up on raw materials in the fall, you can find an already sprouted acorn right after the snow melts, when the sprout has not yet entered the soil. You need to quickly pack it in a humid environment. It is impossible to keep a seedling in the open air for a long time - the roots require constant hydration and care.
Soil for oak
Oak is unpretentious to the soils of the middle lane, but loves fertile soil rich in nutrients. So that the germinated sprout does not fade, it is planted in moistened soil taken from the place of growth of the mother oak. If this is not the case, you can take the soil in a country house or a fertile garden plot, add peat moss or vermiculite to it to hold water.
The pot must have drainage holes to remove excess moisture. Planting of sprouted material is carried out to a depth of 3-5 cm. For the first time before growing seedlings, you can use small plastic cups that are conveniently placed in the apartment on the windowsill. Landings are covered with a damp cotton swab or rag, creating a greenhouse effect with glass or a film with vents. The first year and up to 10 years, the seedling growth rate can reach 25-35 cm, then the process slows down.
As the plants grow, they need to be transplanted into larger dishes with soil replacement.
Oak transplant
When the seedlings have grown stronger, it is time to transplant it into the ground in an open area.
How to determine the preparedness of seedlings for a change of place:
- The plant has reached growth of 15 cm or more, it is higher than the pot by more than 100%;
- The root system is formed, the central rod is clearly identified, it has a healthy white color;
- The plant has already left the leaves.
Finding a suitable place
Oak can be transplanted without damage only at an early age. When a tree sits in one place for a long time, its root system grows and deepens, the plant thoroughly takes its place. This fact must be considered before transplantation. There should be enough free space on the site, new houses and structures should not be placed near the oak - the root system in the future can violate the integrity of the foundation.
The oak does not tolerate a dark place - it is impossible to plant it in the shade or under other adult trees, it will take root for a long time, the growth rate will drop significantly, you won’t have to wait for a powerful stately representative of the Bukov family.
Where to plant oak in the country:
- Place must be open;
- The photophilous oak should be defined in the west - south of the site;
- In the future, a grown tree with a rich crown will itself become a source of a dark place, therefore it is not worth it to place a seedling in places where this is inappropriate;
- Near the place there should not be any communications and paths that may be damaged by the roots.
How to plant
Procedure for successful transplantation:
- The area is cleared of tall grass. How much space is needed for a seedling depends on the desired result - for a powerful tree, a free diameter of 15 - 20 m is required.
- A site with a diameter of 1.5 meters is dug up, achieving uniformity of the soil and its loosening for enrichment with oxygen.
- Dig a hole a few centimeters deeper than the length of the roots, moisturize it.
- A seedling is taken out of the pot along with the soil and moved to a prepared hole, sprinkled with earth, and compacted.
- Abundantly watered landing. Do not be afraid to flood the roots - excess moisture will go deep into the soil.
- At a distance of 30 cm from the trunk, mulch is poured in a circle - it will protect the soil from drying out and the spread of unnecessary weeds.
The same action plan should be followed if you want to make a home oak. In this case, the container should have a volume of at least 100 liters. Of course, no matter how much you take care, the potted plant will not become so large and powerful, but it will delight the eye with greenery for a longer time.
Oak Care
Like any plant, a young oak tree requires care and attention. At first, in the open space, “new settlers” may feel uncomfortable - a new place, soil, lighting. It is important to constantly monitor their condition.
Young shoots are attractive for birds, rodents. So that intruders do not spoil the plant, they arrange protection - a small frequent fence around the planting. To avoid insect attack, foliage is treated with pesticides.
Any kind of young oak requires high light and constant moisture. To avoid competition on the site, the space around it must be cleaned of foreign plants and fast-growing trees.
At first, the oak tree requires constant watering.
You need to take care of the plant until it grows stronger, on average, up to 4-5 years. Upon reaching this time, a young tree up to 1.5 meters tall will already show off in the country.
How to grow an oak tree is now clear, there’s nothing complicated about it, just be patient for a few years.
After 30-40 years, a lonely-standing oak tree begins to bear fruit - once every 6-8 years acorns ripen on the branches, from which new seedlings can appear.