Introduction

There are a jaw dropping 600 species of Oak across the world! This makes them one of the most prevalent trees to populate our forests. Due to the oaks’ highly adaptable nature, the species has mastered the ability to thrive in almost any climate.

Sadly, despite the oaks evolutionary talents, a decline in numbers has been recognised over the years. Local wildlife have been identified as the main culprit for this deterioration.  Trees generate acorns as a way to repopulate, but many forest dwelling creatures see a tasty snack instead. This is why Oak Tree Care has never been more important!

If you have been toying with the idea of planting an oak tree yourself, take the leap! Your contribution will reinforce the effort to conserve oak trees and increase their presence once more.

Getting to know your Oak Tree

The majority of oak trees fit into one of two categories: Red Oaks or White Oaks. But how can you tell the difference? You won’t be-leaf it!

Red Oak

If you have spotted an oak with leaves that are pointed at the lobes and have bristly tips, you will have discovered a red oak tree. Acorns from a red oak prefer to germinate in spring so you can collect these in autumn and store them to grow later. Place your acorn and some soil in a resealable plastic bag and pop it in the fridge until you are ready to plant.

White Oak

You may have stumbled across an oak tree with leaves that are much more rounded at the edges. Congratulations you have successfully identified a white oak tree! Acorns from a white oak tree can germinate in the autumn months, so unlike it’s red counterpart, it’s best to plant these acorns as soon as they fall.

Either species will make the perfect addition to your garden. So let’s get growing!

Oak Tree Care: Planting

By far the most natural way to plant an oak tree begins by gathering some acorns. This method is the most inexpensive for oak tree care considering acorns are free; and it’s a lot of fun for the whole family!

You may opt to purchase an oak tree in it’s beginning years and transplant it instead. We will jump in with details on how to achieve this a little later in our guide.

Space

The vast majority of oak trees grow to an enormous scale.  Ensure the plot you have in mind will still provide plenty of space for the tree and its roots for years to come. 3 meters apart from any other trees should provide ample room for your oak to thrive for hundreds of years.

Selecting your acorns

Try to resist grabbing the first acorns that fall to the ground.  Waiting for the second flush to fall will ensure you have the most prosperous acorns to plant.  You want your acorns to be a fat, ripe and beautiful brown colour. Any that are green (unripe) or blackened (rotting) are to be avoided.

Gathering your acorns

Be sure to gather handfuls of acorns! You may think you have gone too far, but we assure grabbing a few more is necessary. The germination achievement rate of acorns is somewhat unreliable, so help yourself to a few extra.

Top Tip: For the ultimate oak tree care from the beginning be sure to examine your acorns for small holes that could indicate insects have been interfering. Remove the caps to inspect more thoroughly and discard any that look suspicious.

Soak them overnight

This is a clever little trick to eliminate any acorns that may sneak through the inspection phase. Place your newly gathered acorns in a container of water and leave them overnight.  In the morning you may notice some acorns are floating and others are not. The ones that surface are likely defective in some way, so be sure to fish these out of the mix.

Add to soil

Grab yourself a small plant pot and fill the bottom with an inch of soil.  Then add a couple of acorns and cover with more compost and a sprinkling of sawdust.

Make sure your acorns face upward as you plant them!

You can plant white oak immediately after soaking.  With red oak you will want to place your acorn in a sealable plastic bag, along with some soil and sawdust and leave it for 8 weeks. Only after completing this stage of oak tree care it is time to move on!

Store your plants

Be sure to place your newly potted plants in a cool room inside or out, avoiding spaces near direct sunlight. Lightly water your acorns a couple of times a week just to keep the soil moist. Continue this ritual as your seeds start to germinate. If any green shoots become visible…It’s happening!

Transplanting

Once your seedlings have reached roughly 25cm in height they will need transplanting to a bigger pot. Gently remove your plant from its original pot, place it in your new one, cover with soil and start the process again. We recommend continuing this process for a couple of years, at which point your tree will be ready for the outside world!

What’s next?

Read our blog about how to appropriately plant your oak sapling, caring for your baby oak tree, and what to know and do about oak tree pests.