An oak tree must welcome the winter outdoors. The tree cannot move, nor would a suitable space be found for its size. So how does he protect himself from the icy cold? And is there anything we can do for him then?
How does an oak tree survive the winter?
Oak trees survive the winter by shedding their leaves in the fall to minimize evaporation losses. A protective layer of leaves in the root area of young trees helps against cold. Evergreen oak species can tolerate temperatures as low as -15 degrees Celsius, while acorns tolerate frost well and germinate in spring.
The powerlessness of the cold
Oak trees are not immune to the cold. It is not without reason that tree specimens can be found in this country that have survived 1000 winters.
Regardless of whether it is a native oak species or an immigrant from Asia, America, etc., an oak tree always comes into spring safely. Only the root area of young, freshly planted oak trees should be covered with a protective layer of leaves in autumn.
Naked encounter with the frost
Just as we experience the oak in its summery green splendor, it will not welcome winter. Already in autumn it turns its leaves to golden brown and sheds them when they are dry. Green leaves would cause the tree to die of thirst in winter as moisture evaporates through them. The frozen ground does not give the tree's roots a chance to fully compensate for this loss.
Tip
Leave the leaves lying still. They form a warming layer in the root area and, after decomposition, provide valuable ingredients for new growth.
Sessile oak keeps its leaves
There is a species of oak that also wears its foliage in winter in our latitudes. The sessile oak, which comes from warmer areas of Asia, delays the separation.
- It also has to change its leaves in autumn
- but she doesn't shed her dried leaves for the time being
- they stay on the branches all winter
- The sessile oak is therefore called winter oak
The English oak, which loses its leaves in autumn, is appropriately called summer oak.
Evergreen oaks are more sensitive
Nurseries also offer evergreen oak species, most of which originate from warm Mediterranean regions. These oaks can also tolerate frost, but their tolerance limit is around -15 degrees Celsius. They can only thrive in a protected location in a mild location.
Acorns can tolerate sub-zero temperatures
Oak seeds, which are found in the acorns, also survive frost well. If they are not collected and eaten by squirrels and other animals, they often germinate beneath the tree in the spring.
