When to Plant Orange Osage
Found in hedgerows, along country roads and near old home sites, the osage orange tree is known by a variety of names. Also called bois-d'arc, hedge-apple and horseapple, the tree is noted for its thorns and large, inedible fruits. It is a deciduous, rapidly growing tree that, when cared for, can be an attractive addition to your property. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Finding Osage Orange
-
This hardy, thorny tree was used by early settlers as a hedgerow or animal fence. When barbed wire was invented, the popularity of this tree declined, but it is still cultivated and found all over the United States. As a result, wild osage orange trees can often be found along roadways or old homesteads. The fruits, seeds or saplings can be used to plant osage orange, but if you find a tree in the wild, make sure you have permission to remove them.
Thornless cultivars are also available in some areas; ask your local gardening store for seedlings or saplings. Male trees are preferred for ornamental uses, as the fruits produced by female trees are unsightly and messy when they fall to the ground.
Planting
-
Plant cuttings in the early spring or fall to give the plant time to develop a root system before the more extreme temperatures of summer and winter. If you are using the fruit or seeds, plant in the early spring with fruits that you have saved from the year before. Leave the fruits to freeze in a barrel or bucket, and then thaw naturally come spring. "Sprout" the fruits by soaking them in water for several days (changing the water as necessary) and then plant. Seeds need to be sprouted as well, by first soaking then mixed with soil and kept warm until the seeds show signs of sprouting. Plant sprouted seeds where desired.
-
Conditions and Care
-
The tree is hardy and grows in a variety of soil and weather conditions. It prefers full sun, so choose a planting site that will allow the cuttings or saplings ample sunlight. While full-grown trees do not need much care, young trees and saplings need to be watered until the root system is strong enough to support the tree on its own. If you are not planning on growing a hedgerow, use cuttings rather than seeds to avoid growing more trees than desired.
-
