Majestic oak: varieties and growing characteristics

The best oak varieties for the site

The tree's resistance to unfavorable climatic conditions is known. After all, he is not afraid of gusty winds, bitter frosts, or severe drought. Among the best oak varieties for planting in the garden you can choose the following:

• The white oak has a spreading crown, forming a lush tent. Decorative look in the colors of wide leaves. When blooming, the leaves on the branches are painted bright red; in summer they are light green, and almost white on the back. During the autumn months, the tree displays dark red foliage. The variety is not suitable for areas with severe frosts.

A slender tree - swamp oak - reaches a height of twenty-five meters. Its pyramidal crown with young hanging shoots will decorate even a small area. The plant grows quickly in moist nutrient soils. The light green leaves, like wide lobes, turn purple in the fall.

• Holm oak is highly resistant to frost. The leaves of this species are decorative - narrow, curly, yellow-variegated, ovate. Match the shape of the leaves and crown. Wood varieties are suitable for creating hedges and alleys. They look great in group and single plantings.
• The homeland of red oak is the north of the American continent, so it easily tolerates cold. The decorative nature of the tree lies in its spherical crown, reddish leaves, thin, with pointed blades.
• The most common species in European forests is pedunculate oak. This powerful beauty can reach fifty meters in length. Its dark green leaves and branches form a wide crown. The longevity of the species is amazing; some specimens are up to a thousand years old. Among the varieties of pedunculate oak, there are plants with a vertical, pyramidal crown and low growth.

For a large plot area, you can choose giants with a tent-shaped crown. Small slender oak trees are suitable for small areas. But all of them will improve the recreation area and the alleys leading to the house.

Botanical description

Oak is a long-liver, capable of growing in one place for more than 200 years. a representative of the Beech family, includes more than 600 different species. In most cases, the crop is a powerful tree with a lush green crown. The height of different varieties ranges from 3 to 50 meters. Most varieties are considered evergreen, but trees with leaf blades that fall annually are also often found.

The rhizome of the oak grows strongly, is powerful, forms a dense root collar towards the center, from which shoots extend several meters wide. The thickness of the roots reaches 20 cm, with most of the rhizome located under the top layer of soil.

A dense thick trunk extends from the root collar, reaching one and a half meters in width. The trunk begins to branch at approximately 60 cm from the ground, while the surface of all shoots and the trunk itself is covered with dense brown bark, which cracks over time. The bark is gray-brown, sometimes burgundy.

Young shoots are covered with bright green foliage. Most species groups are represented by entire leaf blades with rounded carved outlines. There are representatives with lobed leaves, which are similar in shape to plates such as maple or chestnut. The leaves can remain on the plant for several years, due to the presence of a special waxy coating on some types. In most cases, the foliage changes annually.

In spring, the oak begins to bloom briefly, during which male and female flowers form and bloom on the side shoots. Female flowers look like earrings, while male flowers are collected in bunches. On the basis of the female flowers, a scale is formed - a saucer, which is later noticeable on the base of the acorn.

The fruit, an acorn, located in the same saucer, is a single-seeded capsule with a dense pericarp. The appearance of the fruit resembles nuts, which in fact it is not.

Conditions for growing a tree

All varieties of oak, despite some external differences, can grow under certain conditions. Many of them cannot tolerate shaded areas, but prefer sunny ones. Only holm oak can grow in the shade of other trees. It is important to know that the root system and crown of an oak can reach enormous sizes, destroying even nearby buildings, sidewalks or concrete paths. The force of the roots can cause damage to the foundation of a house. Therefore, when planning to plant a tree, this must be taken into account.

The best place for the “giant” would be the far corner of the garden, where you can arrange a relaxation area for the whole family.

Moist soils with normal acidity levels are suitable for oak. Acidic soil is dangerous for them; because of this, a deciduous tree cannot coexist with coniferous specimens. And the soil hidden by fallen needles will not be able to provide sufficient moisture and nutrients to the deciduous tree.

Almost all types of oak easily tolerate low temperatures, but spring frosts often kill white and swamp oak seedlings. All this must be taken into account when purchasing a young tree. Fertile soils, more sunlight, space - these are the main conditions that are suitable for a giant oak.

Preparing the acorn

Before planting an acorn in the ground, it must be prepared by subjecting it to a stratification procedure. Growing an oak from an acorn is possible only after it has been in conditions close to winter. The order is:

• Take a container with a lid and holes for air exchange.
• Pour into it the acorns, soil and leaves collected from the grove where they collected them.
• Place the acorn in the soil.
• Close the container and put it in the refrigerator or cellar, the temperature should be constant +2-3 °C.

The procedure simulates wintering in a native grove under a layer of snow; without it, a healthy oak tree cannot be grown.

Germination

In spring, the oak seed is transferred to a moist environment to germinate. This can be wet gauze or sphagnum moss in a plastic bag. Within 90-120 days in the refrigerator, the acorns will hatch. The time for the appearance of roots depends on the variety and type. Sprouting acorns must be handled with extreme caution; the roots are very fragile.

If you couldn’t get seed material in the fall, you can visit the oak grove immediately after the snow melts. Under the trees there will be acorns that have hatched but not taken root. They can be collected by immediately placing them in a bag of moist sphagnum moss, then grown at home.

Soil for oak

Oak is a tree that loves fertile soil with a high content of nutrients. The soil for planting a hatched acorn is taken from its native grove; if this is not possible, a mixture of leaf soil and cultivators (sphagnum, vermiculite) is suitable.

Forest giant seeds are planted to a depth of 3-5 cm in small pots or cups. The pot where the seedling will grow must have drainage and holes. The plantings are provided with a greenhouse and protected from hypothermia, direct sunlight, and drying out.

Oak propagation methods

If you want to have a magnificent specimen of a deciduous tree on your site, then you can grow it from an acorn. They are collected in the fall and kept in a cool place. You can plant them in pots with nutritious soil, and by spring tender sprouts will appear that can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Oak is characterized by long growth, so you need to be patient with your green friend and care for it properly.

But in the spring you can come across seeds that are starting to hatch slightly. The hole prepared in advance is filled with a soil mixture of one part sand, garden soil, and two parts humus. The acorn is buried 5-7 centimeters into the ground. The planting site must be watered regularly. Under good conditions, sprouts will appear quickly. All that remains is to organize careful care for them. Many gardeners prefer to purchase seedlings from nurseries. This method is the most accessible and effective. The young tree already has a strong root system; all that remains is to find a place for it on the site and plant it.

A young oak tree dug up in the forest will easily take root in the garden if you add soil taken from the place where it grew to the planting hole. The pit is prepared in advance by filling it with loose soil that is neutral in acidity. Attention to the seedling will reduce the time it takes for the sprout to adapt to new conditions and help it gain a foothold in a new place.

Terms and rules for planting seedlings

Autumn during Indian summer is suitable for planting young oak trees. Before the onset of winter, the tree will become stronger and will be able to survive unfavorable times. In spring, they can be planted after warm weather has established, without severe night frosts.

• A drainage layer ten centimeters thick is laid at the bottom of the planting hole. This will help prevent moisture from stagnating and increase the permeability and looseness of the soil. And adding wood and deciduous mass will allow air to circulate freely. It is useful to add ammonia fertilizer to the hole.
• The seedling, together with a lump of earth on the roots, is placed in the recess of the hole. When falling asleep, the soil is compacted around the trunk using a mortar or a hand clenched into a fist. This must be done carefully, without damaging the delicate roots of the oak tree.
• In the first days after planting, the seedling will need to be watered. You can mulch the soil around the tree by adding a ten-centimeter layer of wood chips or peat.
• After planting the tree in the fall, it is covered for the winter by wrapping the trunk with burlap in one or two layers.

Care tips: watering, fertilizing, pruning

Caring for oak is not particularly difficult:

1. The regularity of watering is determined by the dryness of summer or spring. If the drought period is long, then a bucket of water is poured per square meter of crown projection. Watering is especially important for young plants in extreme heat.
2. Feed the tree twice. At the beginning of spring, a kilogram of mullein, ten grams of urea, and twenty grams of ammonium nitrate are diluted in ten liters of water and the area of ​​the root circle is watered. In September, no more than twenty grams of nitrophoska are added.
3. Weeds are constantly removed from around the tree and the soil is loosened to a depth of twenty-five centimeters.
4. Crown pruning is carried out in autumn or early spring, during the dormant period, removing dried branches. In this case, the air temperature should not be lower than minus five degrees, otherwise the tree will freeze. The procedure is necessary to clean the trunk from top shoots. The tree crown is also formed by pruning. In the fall, 2-3 axial branches in the center of the crown are cut to a standard, shortening the lateral ones. On thick branches, cuts are treated with garden varnish or natural paint. In spring, the oak tree will be pleased with its spherical crown, and the height of the tree will decrease. If it is necessary to stop the growth of the giant in height, then the apical bud is cut off, pinching the central shoot. Thin shoots six centimeters in diameter must be removed from red oak trees.

Caring for oak is simple and does not require any material or time costs.

“Natives” of the Far East, the Caucasus, East Asia and Siberia

Large anther (high mountain Caucasian) oak

The height of the tree does not exceed 20 meters. The leaves, about 18 cm long, are distinguished by a characteristic pinnately dissected shape with short blunt lobes (from 8 to 10). The upper part of the leaf has a smooth surface and is colored dark green, while the lower part looks yellowish-gray due to thick fibers. These oak representatives are resistant to dry and frosty weather, but grow rather slowly. Decorative plantings are often formed by large-anthered hybrids, named after Michurin, Timiryazev, Komarov, Vysotsky.

Diseases and pests of oak, combating them

The mighty tree is famous for its good health. But sometimes frost-damaged areas are found on the trunks of young oak trees. The affected areas treated with an antiseptic will heal quickly. Coating them with garden varnish will speed up the process.

What can a tree “suffer” from:

• Necrosis of branches and trunks is noticeable by the shedding of bark in the affected areas. The causative agents of the disease include species of condial and marsupial fungi. The consequences of the disease are the death of branches, even the death of the oak. Plants with mechanical damage are usually affected by the disease. A tree weakened by unfavorable climatic conditions - drought, severe frosts - is susceptible to pathology. You can save it by treating the cut areas with iron sulfate. The procedure is carried out in early spring before the buds open.
• Once under the bark of a tree, dropsy bacteria infect even mature trees. The swellings formed under the bark are filled with liquid. After the trunk cracks, the mucus flows out, forming brown spots on the bark. Periods of drought and rain, and sudden temperature changes are favorable for the spread of bacterial dropsy. Disease prevention includes timely pruning of dry branches, cleaning and destruction of cut shoots.
• Among the pests that attack the tree are gall midges, insects that look like tiny flies. By laying eggs inside a leaf, they infect the entire tree. At the oviposition sites, balls are formed in which harmful larvae hide. Treatment with pesticides will save the plant from insects.
• The oak barbel reaches 2-5 centimeters in length. His mustache is the same length. Insect larvae feed on wood, bast, and tree roots, gnawing out passages inside the trunk. You can destroy the longhorned beetle by spraying it once with Karate or twice with Karbofos.
• The green oak leaf roller is distinguished by its resemblance to small butterflies. Her front wings are light green, and her hind wings are light gray. Yellowish caterpillars eat the leaves of the tree, which stops the growth of the oak tree and destroys the harvest of acorns. The parasite appears in the first month of summer during high humidity and heat. You can destroy the leaf roller by spraying Karbofos and Decis twice.

Diseases and parasites affect weakened trees that grow with insufficient care.

More information can be found in the video:

Table of contents

I. Introduction. History of the plant.

II. Main part

1. Varieties of plants and places of growth,
2. Appearance.
3. Why do oak trees have gnarled branches?
4. Oak propagation.
5. Oak and everything around it.
6. Beneficial features. Usage.
7. Memorial oaks. "Patriarchs of the Forest"

IV. Bibliography.

History of the plant.

Oak is a symbol of immortality and longevity, as it lives for a very long time; 300 - 400 years is not old age for it. There are also thousand-year-old patriarchs. Until recently, an oak tree grew in St. Petersburg, planted, according to legend, by Peter I himself. The Slavs considered the oak a sacred tree, a symbol of strength and dedicated it to Perun, the god of thunder and lightning. There is a belief that oak attracts lightning more than any other tree. Since ancient times and to this day, observations about the frequent strikes of lightning in oak trees have lived in people's memories, which is reflected in sayings like: “Stay away from the oak tree during a thunderstorm.” It is no coincidence that the oak was considered sacred and was associated with the name of the thunder god Zeus (Jupiter).

For many peoples, oak has long been considered the personification of power, strength and constancy, a symbol of strength and glory. Particularly distinguished people were awarded a wreath of oak branches. The people treated the oak with respect and love. They noted from it: a rustling oak tree means bad weather, a lot of acorns on an oak tree means a warm winter and a fruitful summer.

Plant varieties and places of growth.

Oak is a perennial wild woody plant.

The oak tree is mighty, but cannot withstand severe frosts. And he doesn't like intense heat. Therefore, it does not grow north of St. Petersburg and in Siberia, and in the Far North, and the south of our country.

In Russian forests, common or pedunculate oak grows. He is always taller than all the trees, reaching for the light, as he cannot stand the shadow. An oak forest is called an oak forest. It’s very easy to breathe here, because oak trees give off a lot of oxygen. In our country, it is widespread in the forest-steppe region and in the zone of deciduous forests. Single oaks are found far in the steppe, along river banks. But it does not grow in Siberia: it does not tolerate the harsh climate. Oak does not grow in Central Asia either. In the Caucasus there is a fluffy rock oak with leaves similar to chestnut ones. In the Far East - Mongolian oak. Shed foliage stays on it until June. This sometimes leads to fires.

The most common and valuable is pedunculate oak. Reaches 40 -50 meters in height, trunk diameter -1-1.5 meters. He is not afraid of drought and strong storms. It has the ability to tolerate soil salinity. Due to this, it is used when laying shelterbelts in the steppe. English oak grows well even on stony and podzolic, rather dry soils.

Scientists believe that there are about 450 species of oak trees in the world. These are mostly large trees, but there are also shrubs. In Spain , shrub oak grows no more than 2-3 meters high. On the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in East Asia, in North and Central America, oak trees have smaller and stiffer leaves than in central Russia. There these are evergreen trees. In the Mediterranean and China, cork and shifting oak are grown. Their bark, light and porous, is used for corks, which are difficult to do without. But the best corks are made from the bark of an oak tree that grows in Morocco, which also produces edible acorns similar to chestnuts.

detailed information

Habitats

English oak grows in Western Europe and the European part of Russia, Africa and western Asia. It is one of the most common species of broad-leaved forests in Europe. The range of pedunculate oak extends to the east to the Urals, in the south to the mountainous regions of the Crimea and the Caucasus. It is adjacent to spruce, pine, hornbeam, ash, birch, maple, and beech. Young oaks are shade-loving. They are not picky about the soil.

Application

Leaves, acorns and bark of the pedunculate oak are used in medicine. The bark is harvested during sap flow. Young trees intended for felling at logging sites are suitable for this purpose. Dry the bark outdoors under a canopy or in a frequently ventilated area. Dry bark breaks when dried, undried bark bends. If during drying this raw material is subjected to excessive waterlogging, a significant part of the tannins contained in it will be lost. The shelf life of dried bark is 5 years. Oak fruits are harvested in the fall, immediately after falling. Dry under a canopy in a well-ventilated area. The attic is also suitable for this purpose. The acorns are spread in one layer on paper, stirring them from time to time. Dry in ovens or dryers. After this, the leathery fertilization and seed coat are removed. Finished raw materials are stored in bags. The shelf life is unlimited.

Use in medicine: English oak bark is widely used in medicine as an astringent, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. A decoction of the bark is used for inflammation and gum disease, stomatitis, sore throat, and also to eliminate bad breath. Compresses are applied for burns, frostbite, ulcers, wounds, dermatitis and other skin diseases. An infusion of oak bark is drunk for diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, and heavy menstruation. Dried and crushed oak seeds help with diarrhea and cystitis. Surrogate coffee is processed from oak seeds, which has medicinal properties. This drink is effective for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, rickets, anemia and scrofula. Infusions and decoctions of oak leaves treat diabetes.