Oak trees are a valuable part of the natural world

Besides being the National Tree of America, oaks support insects, birds and all forms of wildlife.

Of all native tree species, oaks support hundreds of butterfly and moth species, 534 to be exact, as quoted by Douglas W. Tallamy in his book, “Bringing Nature Home.” This is important to sustain a functioning ecosystem.

The insect life oaks support helps feed songbirds. Birds need energy for migration and breeding. Baby birds need food. More than 5,000 caterpillars may be needed to feed a clutch of chickadees, according to Clemson University research. The cavities that develop in living and dead oaks supply vital nesting sites for dozens of bird species.

The acorns produced by oaks are relished by many animal species: deer, red and gray squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, blue jays and raccoons to name a few of the more than 100 U.S. vertebrate species that eat acorns.

Have you ever climbed or just sat under a spreading oak tree? Oaks require sun to grow but give us shade under their canopies.

Some of the more pleasing aspects of oaks are their vibrant fall colors that range from bright to muted shades of yellow, red and bronze. Some oaks such as black, pin, shingle and white oaks retain their leaves through winter, creating a contrast to bare branches. Others have deep furrowed bark creating winter interest: bur, chestnut and scarlet oaks.

Oak trees are the most overlooked trees in new landscapes. Most landscapers don’t carry them due to their slow growth and difficulty in transplanting mature trees. Not all oaks take forever to grow. Pin and willow oaks are fast growing (2 feet or more a year). Red oak is a tad slower. White oak is worth the wait at about a foot or so a year.

There is an oak tree for every garden location and soil condition. Pin and swamp white oaks tolerate moist soil. Swamp white can even tolerate occasional standing water. Scarlet, chestnut and white tolerate thin, dry soil. Chinkapin and bur are tolerant of alkaline soils.

For those of us who like to propagate plants and for a fun project for kids, try starting an oak tree from acorns. Soak the acorns in a container of water overnight. Damaged and immature seeds float to the top, and you can scoop them off and discard them. White oak acorns are ready for planting right after soaking, but red oak acorns need a special treatment called stratification.

Place the red oak acorns in a zipper bag with moist sawdust or peat moss. You don’t want the sawdust or peat moss soaking wet, just lightly damp. Leave them for eight weeks, checking every two weeks or so to make sure they aren’t molding. Remove molded acorns and leave the bag open to allow fresh air in if you see signs of mold.

Fill pots that are at least 12 inches deep with potting soil. Plant the acorns an inch deep. You can plant several acorns in each pot. Transplant the seedlings to a permanent location when the first leaves unfurl. If you only have one seedling in the pot, you can keep it indoors in a sunny window for up to three months. If you prefer to plant the acorns directly in the ground, take care to protect them from wildlife.

Remember, many oaks live 200 years or more. Plant a tree now for your grandchildren!

If you would like more information on oaks or other gardening topics, contact the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Berks County at berksmg@psu.edu or phone the office at 610-378-1327.

Dee Dee Kerscher is a Penn State Extension Master Gardener volunteer and horticulture program assistant.

Spotted lanternfly update:

It’s October, and the spotted lanterflies should be swarming and finding new places to lay their eggs. Due to the unusual weather lately, there hasn’t been much evidence of this. It seems that here in Berks County, the SLF population is diminishing. Don’t kid yourself. They’re still here! Keep checking for the egg masses containing 30 to 50 eggs. It won’t take much for the population to increase. SLF eggs can be destroyed by scraping the eggs into a container holding rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer or by thoroughly smashing them. We need to be vigilant.

For more information and current updates, visit the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-management-resourses.

Source: Berkshire mont