A Free Autumn Gift : the Acorn

Autumn is harvest season and the forests and woodlands, even the back yard, are full of free gifts. One small and unique gift is the simple acorn. With proper attention and care, the acorn can soon be a long-lived and majestic tree.

Oak trees can live to be over a couple hundred years and there have been reports of oak trees approaching or over 1,000 years old. Oak trees, which are found throughout the world in northern regions, are a gift which can last a long time.

Oak trees can produce thousands of acorns during their lifetime. Some oaks begin producing acorns at twenty years on average; there are some species which can produce a crop earlier and some later depending on the environmental conditions.

Acorns are a favorite food of many wild animals such as deer and turkey, squirrels and bears and yes, even mice. Native Americans and the early settlers used the acorns for flour and in some agricultural regions the acorns are still used as a livestock feed primarily for pigs.

There is a lot of luck involved for the acorn to even mature. In the early spring, once the oak flowers open, the developing acorn, called a nubbin at that stage, requires the proper humidity, temperatures, a frosts will kill the nubbin, and the proper amount of moisture. It can be killed by a number of damaging insects, particularly weevil larvae. Then, there are years when the tree simply slows down it's reproductive cycle. Some years there is a bumper crop, other years, acorn crops are naturally are less abundant.

The lucky acorn found on the ground only had a one in ten thousand chance of survival to eventually develop into a tree, according to some estimates. Growing an oak tree from the mature acorn, however, is a much simpler task. There are various methods which can be used to germinate the acorn depending on the species and the time when the acorn is harvested.

Growing an oak tree can be a fun family or individual project. The process can be educational and a step forward in creating a better environment. An oak tree will live a long time, it is a gift which will keep on giving. It helps to know what species you are collecting for planting. There are several common ones found throughout North America such as the white oak, red oak, sawtooth oak and pin oak.

Acorns can be easily gathered in the autumn months in woods, forests, public parks and even back yards. Once the acorns are collected. I use black plastic gallon pots filled with woods soil, but a good potting soil can also be used. Push the acorn gently into the dirt and covered to a depth of about a half inch or less.

The pots, which need to have bottom drainage holes, are placed in a small garden area exposed to all the winter elements. But it is important to cover the pots with some type of screening to protect the acorn from marauding birds, squirrels and other animals. Uncovered, the container is an open invitation for a free meal.

Once the weather warms in the spring, the acorn will sprout and grow rapidly. The real only requirement at this stage and for the next several months is to keep the oak seedling well watered.

Within the first year of the seedlings growth is a good time to take it out of the pot and place the tree in the ground. Some recommend the new tree be placed in the ground as soon as the leaves develop since oak trees quickly develop a long tap root. I usually take mine out of the pots and plant in the ground in the early fall following the germination that spring.

Some oak species can take a wet area, others like it more drained. Most can grow in partial shade or full sun. One of the most important actions to take to ensure the seedling's survival is to keep a small fence around it, a wire tomato cage wrapped in chicken wire works fine. The young seedling is a gourmet treat for many animals such as rabbit and deer. The protective covering can be removed after the first year or two.

Oak trees need room. The white oak, for example, can grow upwards of a hundred feet with a width spread of 50 to 80 feet. The red oak is somewhat smaller but still needs plenty of space. This oak can grow up to 75 feet tall with an width spread of about 50 feet.

Other sources of information on growing oak trees from acorns and identifying a species can be found at state or federal forestry offices, online Web sites, and gardening organizations. Growing a free acorn is easy and inexpensive; just know which species your planting and go from there with an eye towards the tree's future location.

Oaks, depending on the species and the local environmental conditions, can grow a foot or two a year. Although oaks have a reputation for being slow growers, mine seem to thrive and can be five to six feet tall within several years.

The oak will prove to be a stately tree with brilliant fall colors and will soon produce an acorn crop attracting an abundance of wildlife for year round enjoyment. Or the young, potted oak seedling can also make a great gift to give because you gave an acorn a chance and started a tree which can live for centuries.