There are more than 600 species of oaks in the world - in this article we will get acquainted with such an exotic plant as red oak: or rather, with its description, the subtleties of planting seedlings and caring for this tree.
Red oak tree
In the wild, this representative kind of grows in the north of the United States and southern Canada. Such a tree grows to a height of 30 m, and its crown is tent-like and dense. The trunk is covered with smooth grayish bark; in old plants the bark cracks.
The leaves, when bloomed, have a reddish tinge, and then become dark green. In autumn, the leaves turn red, for which this oak is called red or red-leaved. Fruits on the tree appear no earlier than 15 years. Acorns are brown-red, resemble a ball in shape, and their length is about 2 cm.
Did you know? Some species of oak trees can live up to 1,5 thousand years. A tree roots can go into the ground at 5 meters.
Features of growing
Red oak tree tolerates frosts, likes lightbut can also grow in partial shade. Due to the deep root system, it is windproof. The soil fertility is very undemanding, does not tolerate excessively wet soil and land with a high content of limestone.
Such a beautiful plant like red oak will look very harmonious with yellow colors: maple, linden, yellow acacia. It is perfectly combined with various coniferous trees and bushes (spruce, barberry, Chinese juniper). Also, oak is suitable for creating an oriental-style garden, combined with rhododendrons, almonds, thujas and elderberries.
Choosing a place
When choosing a place for planting red oak it is very important to take into account its large size, which it will acquire in the future, so you need to leave enough space for the plant to develop fully. This plant prefers very bright places, but can easily grow in shingles.
Despite the splendor of the crown, the tree tolerates strong, heavy winds very well. Due to the deep root system, the oak is firmly fixed in the ground - this allows you to plant it in the open areas with confidence and not be afraid that the tree will be turned upside down during a hurricane.
Did you know? In the hollow of an oak, which is more than 2 thousand years old, a whole room was made - It grows in France.
Soil requirements
Regarding the soil, this variety is picky. It will grow well in any soil - even where acidity is elevated. Only wetlands and limestone soils adversely affect the plant. When landing the mixture for sleeping pits should be done in the following way:
- 2 parts of turf soil;
- 1 part sheet;
- 2 pieces of sand;
- 1 part peat.
Important! When planting a seedling in a soil with high acidity, liming is strictly prohibited.
Technology and planting scheme seedlings
Planting oak seedlings is very simple, and even amateur gardener can handle it. Planting a tree is best in early spring, before the leaves appear. It will be useful to plant several shrubs around the seedling, which will protect it from the wind in the early stages of the life of the tree, and it also helps to accelerate growth.
Selection of seedlings
As a rule, oak from acorn propagates, but sapling can be obtained by cutting from young specimens. Yet the best option would be to purchase a sapling from the nursery.
When buying a sapling, pay attention to the fact that the roots were covered with earth: if you destroy the earthen room, it will be almost impossible to grow the plant. This is explained by the fact that there are special myceliums in the ground that interact with the roots and are vital for the plant, which is why it is necessary to preserve the earthen seedlings when transplanting to a new place.
Many are afraid to plant oak due to the fact that its lush crown cast a shadow. But in the spring, until the foliage fully blooms, it is light enough and you can decorate the space under it with an anemone, violet, in the summer - with periwinkle, hoofed. And you can also land hosts, brunners, astilbe, daylilies and other shade-tolerant perennials.
Landing
A small hole is dug for planting a seedling in the ground, and a drainage thickness of 10 to 20 cm is surely placed on its bottom, since the plant does not tolerate stagnant water. The red oak root is straight, resembles a rod, is placed in a hole so that the acorn, the remnants of which are present at the root, are at a depth of 2 to 4 cm.
Gardeners do not recommend adding ash when planting. It is necessary to water a sapling after landing throughout a week, at the same time without filling it.
Important! When creating an alley, seedlings must be at a distance of at least 5 meters from each other, otherwise the plants will not be able to grow.
Oak care
Red oak is drought tolerant, but still needs some watering. Young trees during a drought need to be watered every three days. Loosening the soil around the plant should be done after each watering to a depth of a quarter of a meter so that the earth is saturated with oxygen and there are fewer weeds.
Mulch the soil should be sawdust or peat, the layer of mulch should be about 10 cm. The tree is pruned in the spring, only dry damaged branches should be removed.
When preparing a young tree for winter, it is recommended to wrap it with a thick cloth to protect it from frost - adult trees do not need such a procedure.
Major plant diseases and pests
Red oak is considered pretty resistant to diseases and pests, but there may be problems with powdery mildew, oak leafworm, moth moth, branch and trunk death. Cracks from frostbite often appear on young trees. Such cracks should be immediately treated with antiseptic and garden pitch.
Prevention of powdery mildew can be spraying plants tincture of Kombucha in the proportion of 0.5 liters of infusion per 10 liters of water. Also, to avoid this disease, the plant should be planted in a place with good lighting and ventilation.
Important! The plant cannot be cured from powdery mildew, therefore preventive measures are very important.
Red oak has a very spectacular view, for which he received great love among gardeners. Growing such a plant is not at all a difficult process that everyone can do: special care for a tree is needed only when it is young and the adult tree almost does not need to be cared for.
