How to Grow Burr Oak Trees From Seed

Burr Oaks are hardy trees that can flourish when grown from seed. Their seeds (acorns) have specific stages of development, including dormancy and hardening. To grow a thriving, healthy sapling, try to simulate an oak's natural conditions.

Things You'll Need

• Burr acorn seeds
• Zipper bag
• Peat moss mix
• Potting soil
• Milled sphagnum moss
• 8 oz. Styrofoam cup

Instructions

1. Hunt for freshly fallen, plumped acorns. You'll find these on the ground under Burr Oak trees. Acorns sprout almost immediately upon touching the soil, so catch them before they begin the process.

2. Place the acorns in a bag of slightly dampened peat moss mix and seal tightly. Store in a refrigerator at 32 degrees and keep them there through the winter. Acorns require 1000 hours of dormancy to thrive. Remove them from the refrigerator in mid-April.

3. Punch four holes in the bottom of a Styrofoam cup and fill with equal parts potting soil and sphagnum moss. Place the acorn in the cup horizontally, slightly below the soil's surface.

4. Water regularly to keep the soil moist. In mid-May, slowly increase the plant's sun exposure to harden it for transplanting.

5. Transplant the young tree in mid-June.

References

• Acorns to Oaks