You need patience if you want to grow an oak tree in the garden. The trees are slow-growing species. It therefore takes time for a shade-providing crown to grow.
How to grow an oak tree in the garden?
To grow an oak tree, you need ripe acorns, which are collected in the fall and stored in the cold for several weeks. You then plant the acorns in a sunny location in the garden and care for the tree by removing weeds and, if necessary, applying a layer of mulch.
Pulling an oak tree from an acorn
You can pick acorns directly from the tree in autumn. Ripe acorns have:
- Smooth brown-green color
- Solid shell
- No wormholes
- No cracks or other injuries
- Acorn can be easily removed from the cap
To determine whether the acorn is he althy, place it in the water bath. Fruits capable of germinating sink downwards.
Sowing acorns
Acorns will only germinate if they are kept in cold temperatures for several weeks. Place them in the freezer bag in the refrigerator.
After about seven weeks, plant the cooled acorns in a pot (€12.00 on Amazon) or directly in the desired location in the garden.
When planting outdoors, you must provide protection, as acorns are often eaten by mice or squirrels.
Getting seedlings from the forest
An alternative way to grow an oak tree is to dig up fresh seedlings in the forest.
Look for that in spring.
Carefully dig up seedlings that have already developed two or three leaves. Do not injure the long taproot, otherwise the seedling will not grow.
Choose the right location
If you plant the acorn in the garden, ensure it is in a good location
An oak tree needs a lot of space and grows particularly well in a sunny location.
Keep in mind that transplanting later can damage the tree. The larger it gets, the more difficult it is to completely dig out the taproot.
Care for oak tree
An oak tree doesn't need a lot of care. For young trees, you should remove the weeds so that the oak tree gets enough light.
A layer of mulch prevents the soil from drying out too much. This is no longer necessary for older trees.
Tips & Tricks
No other tree or shrub provides a habitat for as many insects, beetles and butterflies as the oak. By growing an oak tree in the garden, you create natural plant protection for your ornamental and useful plants.
