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Red Oaks
Nov 15, 2020 16:42:20 GMT -6
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Post by Bwoods11 on Nov 15, 2020 16:42:20 GMT -6
I have zero red oaks on my farm in Iowa. I want to start some on a grassy hill side. I hear they like slight hills facing south ... where do you guys see them?
**A guy that I know to south 7 miles has had very good success planting red oaks. So I’m optimistic they will do well.
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Post by Catscratch on Nov 15, 2020 17:02:18 GMT -6
I have some on a west slope. Could just be due to circumstances and that they were hard to get to for clearing way back when. Want any sawtooth acorns? I'll mail ya some...
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Post by benmnwi on Nov 15, 2020 17:23:21 GMT -6
I see them scattered everywhere, so I'd plant them without worrying too much about the hillside orientation. I wouldn't go with a monoculture though in case a disease comes through. Maybe throw in some burr oaks and some walnuts for diversity.
I've heard disking ground, broadcasting acorns and disking again works pretty well.
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Post by nhmountains on Nov 15, 2020 17:27:06 GMT -6
I think they’d do well anywhere. I see them on high ground, low ground, north, and south doesn’t seem to matter here. I’ve said it many times, the red oaks area great addition to properties to add diversity and provide food for deer in the spring before green up. If you’re planting the acorns remember they need cold stratification before they will sprout so if fall planted they sprout the next spring.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Nov 15, 2020 17:30:36 GMT -6
I see them scattered everywhere, so I'd plant them without worrying too much about the hillside orientation. I wouldn't go with a monoculture though in case a disease comes through. Maybe throw in some burr oaks and some walnuts for diversity. I've heard disking ground, broadcasting acorns and disking again works pretty well. I’ll mix in Swamp Bur Oaks!
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Post by Bwoods11 on Nov 17, 2020 12:21:50 GMT -6
With the natural cedars I like how the young red oaks maintain their leaves until late season. Maybe some pin oaks too, Sawtooth?
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Post by benmnwi on Nov 17, 2020 12:26:23 GMT -6
Black oaks are in the red oak family and they also hold their leaves late. My SE MN property has a few red oaks, but tons of black oaks. They look pretty similar and they are pretty tolerant of sandy soil, which is probably why they are more common than red oaks on my land.
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Post by Catscratch on Nov 17, 2020 12:31:05 GMT -6
With the natural cedars I like how the young red oaks maintain their leaves until late season. Maybe some pin oaks too, Sawtooth? Sawtooth don't loose their leaves until spring when the new one's push them off. They can make a good screen.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Nov 17, 2020 12:42:29 GMT -6
With the natural cedars I like how the young red oaks maintain their leaves until late season. Maybe some pin oaks too, Sawtooth? Sawtooth don't loose their leaves until spring when the new one's push them off. They can make a good screen. You have some acorns? I was thinking more plugs or seedlings...how do you protect them? Tube?
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Post by Catscratch on Nov 17, 2020 13:39:53 GMT -6
Sawtooth don't loose their leaves until spring when the new one's push them off. They can make a good screen. You have some acorns? I was thinking more plugs or seedlings...how do you protect them? Tube? I have plenty in the fridge. I can send you as many as you want (probably). Just let me know. I've tried many things to protect them (acorns left in the ground get eaten by rodents and fresh sprouts get eaten by everything). I've ended up using sections of PVC pounded into the ground with a cone of window screen pushed into the top. Push the PVC a couple of inches into the ground, drop an acorn, throw in a hand full of dirt on top of it, push the cone in. Once it outgrows the cone something has to be done to protect the tree. Cages are best. Cages are the most cost and work. I could probable take some pics tonight if you want. I also like to grow a few in pots every year. They get a good start and it's fun to plant something of substance.
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Red Oaks
Nov 18, 2020 8:40:27 GMT -6
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Post by Bwoods11 on Nov 18, 2020 8:40:27 GMT -6
Shingle Oak were common on my farm in south central Iowa and they were popular for bedding (like a shrub). None out west that I’ve seen. Some Locals consider them invasive so I better not plant them. I might have to research that a bit more. You can see one on background of this pic ...
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Post by Sandbur on Nov 18, 2020 11:37:49 GMT -6
You have some acorns? I was thinking more plugs or seedlings...how do you protect them? Tube? I have plenty in the fridge. I can send you as many as you want (probably). Just let me know. I've tried many things to protect them (acorns left in the ground get eaten by rodents and fresh sprouts get eaten by everything). I've ended up using sections of PVC pounded into the ground with a cone of window screen pushed into the top. Push the PVC a couple of inches into the ground, drop an acorn, throw in a hand full of dirt on top of it, push the cone in. Once it outgrows the cone something has to be done to protect the tree. Cages are best. Cages are the most cost and work. I could probable take some pics tonight if you want. I also like to grow a few in pots every year. They get a good start and it's fun to plant something of substance. Take a soup can and cut an X in the end that is not open. Tip those metal flaps up a bit. Plant the acorns and then push the upside down can down to dirt level. Remove the can after germination. I did this with coffee cans and walnuts 30 plus years ago. The cans rusted away and were never removed. An oak might outgrow a soup can before rust eats the metal up.
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Post by honker on Nov 29, 2020 12:07:39 GMT -6
I wish I had done more to protect some of the native seedlings I saw when I first bought the place. I was thinking safety in numbers, but they just don't stand much of a chance of being more than an oak bush without some protection. I've started tubing and caging some in the best locations, but I could be 6 years ahead.
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Post by jbird on Nov 29, 2020 21:13:48 GMT -6
I have a boat load (several 100) of Northern red oak acorns in the fridge right now if you want some....
I find red oak in lots of different places so I think they are pretty adaptable.
I made "germination" cages of hardware cloth if I really wanted to give them a fighting chance. They are about the diameter of a beer can and 12 to 18" tall with a dowel rod to anchor it and a piece of flagging tape. plant 3 acorns per site....then replace/expand the cage as needed.
I think I may try Cat's PVC pipe idea on some come spring as I plan on planting a fair number of them. I also know that planting trees in the woods tends to be futile for the most part.
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Red Oaks
Dec 1, 2020 8:01:27 GMT -6
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Post by Bwoods11 on Dec 1, 2020 8:01:27 GMT -6
Thank you for the offer... I usually pass on acorns. Just not a lot of success with them . My only luck is random Bur Oaks I’ll pop in the ground and a few make it.
I’d rather just plant the plug or seedling. Thanks though !
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