{"id":9224,"date":"2021-07-27T11:00:23","date_gmt":"2021-07-27T11:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=9224"},"modified":"2021-08-03T08:05:28","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T08:05:28","slug":"how-to-grow-oak-trees-from-acorns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/how-to-grow-oak-trees-from-acorns\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Grow Oak Trees From Acorns?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Oak trees are strong, beautiful trees that grow natively<\/a> in a variety of habitats. Did you know that with just a little bit of time and luck, you can grow your own oak trees? In this article, we\u2019ll discuss all you need to know about how to grow oak trees from acorns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Start an Oak Tree From an Acorn?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Growing oak trees from seed is easy to do as long as you follow a few basic steps. It may take some practice to get it right, but you\u2019ll find that acorns will sprout like weeds as long as you meet certain conditions to help them grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the step-by-step process for starting oak trees from acorns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collect the Acorns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Acorn season begins during early fall and lasts through late fall or early winter depending on your location. It\u2019s best to collect acorns from strong, healthy trees after the acorns have begun falling from the trees.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can gather your acorns from the ground or from the tree branches. If the caps fall off on their own or you can remove them easily, you will know the acorns are mature enough to plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take care only to collect healthy, solid, undamaged acorns. Discard any acorns that show signs of mold or rot, have cracks or holes in them, or feel too lightweight.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One quick way to test the viability of the acorns is to put them in a bucket or bowl and fill it with water. Any acorns that float can be discarded, as they will not grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stratify the Acorns in the Refrigerator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you have a collection of healthy, undamaged acorns, you\u2019ll need to prep them for planting through a process called stratification<\/strong>. This process involves storing them in the refrigerator to mimic the natural conditions they would be experiencing outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To stratify acorns, place them in resealable bags with a little bit of peat moss, vermiculite, sawdust, or a similar soil additive.<\/strong> The bag should only be about half full, and the acorns should have plenty of room to breathe without being crowded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Place your bags in the refrigerator. <\/strong>According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources<\/a>, the fridge should be set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check the bags periodically over the next 30 to 90 days<\/strong>, making sure the peat moss or other additive stays moist but not wet. It\u2019s important not to let the mixture dry out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on how long you keep them in the fridge, the acorns may begin to sprout. Be careful not to damage the long taproots that form when you check the bags or remove them for planting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plant the Acorns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once the acorns have stratified for at least 30 days, you can plant them in pots or directly outside. You can plant them as early as December in warmer regions, though you may want to wait until February or March in colder areas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To plant the acorns inside, fill several 8-inch-deep or larger pots or planters with a good quality potting soil or a mix of sand, loam, and peat moss. You\u2019ll need one pot for each acorn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Place the acorn in the pot and cover it with about half an inch of soil<\/strong>. Keep the soil damp but not soaking – you don\u2019t want to overwater oak seedlings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is best to start acorns inside as they are more protected from the elements and wildlife<\/strong>, but if you choose to plant them outside, there are some extra steps you can take to protect them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n