Red oak acorns are starting to break open. We picked these up from a local tree last fall until the first snow and then "floated" the acorns by putting them in water. Whichever sinks, these should be viable. The acorns are placed into a bag of peat moss in the spare frig to simulate the cold winter - this is called the stratification process. If we planted in the ground right away, then squirrels and other critters could get them.
These are ready to be planted in a tube tray with a peat moss/sand mix and will I let them grow in the tubes until next spring. So long as the squirrels and chipmunks stay out, they should be ready to plant. We lost half of our white oak seedlings to them last summer. Previous year's surviving white oak, red oak and hickory will be planted in a few weeks.
We do this every year and we lost access to several white oaks last fall. Still looking for a black oak source that we lost a few years ago.
The numbers: of the acorns we pick up, we throw out 70-80% after floating. Of those seedlings that are planted, only about 20% survive rabbits and other rodents to year three. Putting up wire cages increase the chances of trees making it but no guarantees there.
Looking forward to spring planting.
Looking forward to reading more about spring at the tree farm. Sidenote, is this going to effect you? https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=SF352
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up, Jason. I don't have any acres in forestry reserve and I pay taxes on all the land. If I choose to enter into this agreement, this does change how that process works (and not in the favor of the landowner).
DeleteWe shall see. Thanks again!