Growing White Oak Trees from Seed / Acorn

This video is a complete profile on the White Oak Tree, Quercus alba, and how to germinate and grow it from acorn. I cover all necessary information from basic facts about the White Oak to when to harvest acorns, how to store them, and grow/germinate them.

Timeline
00:00 - Introduction to White Oak
00:55 - Characteristics and Benefits of White Oak Tree
02:19 - Native Range & Growing Conditions of White Oak Tree
03:02 - Identifying White Oak Tree
03:54 - Harvesting White Oak Acorns
05:20 - Testing White Oak Acorn Viability
06:05 - How to sprout White Oak acorns in a paper towel
06:56 - Planting White Oak Acorns
07:49 - Germination / Separating White Oak Seedlings
08:12 - Direct sowing White Oak Acorns
08:56 - Review

[adiposerex]

A squirrel planted a red oak acorn in my sister’s yard. The sapling is about 3 feet tall now.

[dankeener]

Our neighbor has a tall White Oak tree over her deck and has talked about removing it. I encouraged her to keep it because of the wildlife value and so far had kept it. Since that conversation I’ve started 6 seedlings, one in our yard and 5 at a park nearby. I left them in the pot until the following September and then planted and protected them. They are slow growing but so fun to watch! Last summer I dipped water from a local stream to keep them hydrated during the drought. The more I invest in them the more special they become. Looking forward to when they’re ten years old. Valuable video. Thx!

[bluebowser]

Very informative. I enjoy your videos talking about native American species. I live in the UK and wish there was a content creator as high quality as you for my country.

[watchthe]

the blowdown branches make great firewood too. We would cut the most damaged ones in our windbreaks/ wildlife trails and take to a neighbor that had a sawmill. Most of them were large engough that the branches gave us firewood for the year. We always put several acorns in the ground around where the old tree grew.

[johnnybstuddd]

wished I would have seen this video when I first moved to my house 15 years ago, the trees would be about 15' tall by now. I still might try to grow a couple, thanks for the video.

[StefanieMay]

Thank you so much for putting out great informative content.
I planted ten swamp white oaks from the conservation dept here in MO about 5 years ago on our property. Silly me didn't mark them and just planted them. (I had planted 85 seedlings that day so I think I just forgot lol).
Anyways I was walking around the property a few weeks ago and I seen one of the oaks I planted! It was about 5ft tall and such a beautiful vibrant red color! I was so happy!! It's just a gorgeous tree and has such majestic mighty magic to it. It was a great feeling seeing it.
Thanks for this info and info on the tall tree pots!

[vanwhalen]

Great info. One of the best I’ve watched on White Oaks

[spuda]

I live in Northern Virginia. I started gathering and will start this process over the weekend.

[misschriss]

I went to a beautiful outdoor wedding last month, and was amazed at the huge white oak acorns. I picked up several, and here I am. We have pin oaks, so I’d love to get some of these to sprout and plant.

[barneygimble]

Very happy to see this video
I was always told that the reason white oak are not found in landscape nurseries is because of the huge tap root.
A one inch tall white oak can have a twelve inch tap root and it makes commercial propagation difficult and expensive .

I hope this video motivates people to propagate this beautiful and resilient tree

[megacheese]

Fantastic video! I'm a relatively new tree enthusiast if that is a thing one could be. I've started growing some acorns I collected from a local park. Finally have a couple rising out of the soil! I have several trees in the backyard I use for bonsai but may be able to convince my dad to grow a white oak in his yard this spring, or maybe a burr oak. He wasn't too keen on the idea of a dawn redwood. Perhaps when I'm no longer renting I could have a backyard forest!

[FranJocks]

I have been trying to grow white oaks for YEARS!! This year, I finally found your video, and followed your directions and I have about 10 nice size seedlings, which I keep indoors, in southern sun (I put several sprouting acorns in one large container) My question is, at what point do I separate them into their own individual pots? Most of the seedlings are about 3-4" tall and 2-3 leaves each

[ThreeRunHomer]

This spring I bought a little one-foot tall white oak at a nursery, and they gave me a second one free because of the chance that one might not survive. I immediately planted one but kept the second in a pot to plant in the fall. Something broke the tiny branches and leaves off the one in the ground (maybe rabbits or deer?). It was just a stick in the ground and I figured it would die but I didn’t dig it up. To my surprise it leafed out again and looks healthy. I guess I should buy a cage for it as you suggested in the video. The tree in the pot is doing okay but actually doesn’t seem as healthy as the one in the ground. I’m not sure what I’ll do with the one in the pot. My yard doesn’t have room for two oaks that will eventually get huge.

[northernmnmike]

Thanks for this video.

I bought a lake property years ago and have been collecting the acorns for 3 years now and planting them.

I probably get 1000s of acorns... and even after floating them.. my yields are not very high... but... I think I am drying them out in fridge over the winter now that I watch your video.

I probably have 150-200 in their 2nd year in raised beds I am hoping to transplant this summer if they made it thru the winter for the 2nd time.

It's just fun... :)

[mariex]

So beautiful. Need to go to North America just to look at them full grown and happy.. maybe grab a few acorns back 💚

[Dadnatron]

Excellent. I’ve been trying to find a detailed instruction video as I want to give this a try. I was specifically finding it difficult to understand WHEN to actually put them in dirt. I think I likely let too many dry out, thinking to keep them until next spring. Thanks

[salinatewolde]

Your video is amazing❤❤ I’m new to planting and I followed what you said and collected some white oak seeds … from my college and followed your steps and right now I have it in a pot and it’s 2inches tall!! I turned on my grow light so that it grows in my house (only for now) because my area has a lot of deers and bunnies.. etc. 😊I’m excited for it to grow a leaf!!

[herbedwards]

thank you very much, very informative, I am grateful.

[easer]

Thanks for sharing, as a wannabe tree planter, I have one pledge, it may be in the link You refer to, but one thing that I would like to know more about, in terms ogetting out planting trees, is what kind of soil to plant the different seeds in, and how to add or subtract acidity etc....

[ATAROT]

I planted 3 acorns in thr ground... and 1 took! I'm so proud....