Acorn Tree Care

Acorns grow on oak trees.

Oak trees grow acorns, which are the seeds that yield new oak trees. Although oak trees do not require much care, gardeners should know a little bit about the trees to avoid accidentally damaging them.

Irrigation

Oak trees tolerate dry conditions well and require no irrigation except for during severe droughts. Mature oaks grow best when gardeners do not irrigate them. Young oak seedlings grow best with a couple of deep waterings during their first few summers.

Considerations

Oak trees have large root zones, and they suffer when human activity disturbs their roots. Gardeners should minimize landscaping activities beneath oak trees, especially within 6 feet of the trunk. Gardeners should not build on or severely disturb the soil within an area 1.5 times larger than the area from the trunk to the area beneath the edge of the outermost branches.

Tips

A layer of mulch around the base of an oak tree prevents weeds and holds moisture. Oak trees with mulch do not require fertilization, except for rare applications of nitrogen if their leaves start to become lighter in color. Gardeners should only prune oak trees to remove dead branches, damaged branches or branches that pose a danger to nearby buildings during storms.

References

• Town of Windsor Planning Department: Native Oak Tree Care
• City of Richmond Hill Georgia: Oak Tree Care
• University of Minnesota Extension: Pruning Trees and Shrubs
• California Oak Foundation: Care of California's Native Oaks
• City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks: Oak Tree Care