Put bare root white oak seedlings in containers now or in spring? - Ask Extension
I have an enormous number of white oak seedlings growing in my back yard. I would like to transfer them to containers, grow them until they are bigge...
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Put bare root white oak seedlings in containers now or in spring? #882971
Asked August 26, 2024, 9:25 AM EDT
I have an enormous number of white oak seedlings growing in my back yard. I would like to transfer them to containers, grow them until they are bigger, and then find people to take plant them in their yards.
1. Which is better, to put the oak seedlings in containers now or in the spring? How much does that matter?
They are taking over my yard, so I have to remove at least some this fall. If it's better to wait until spring, I'm wondering if I should simply discard what I remove this fall.
2. Should I only put certain sizes in containers?
The seedlings range in size from 3 to 15 inches. I'm wondering if certain sizes have a better success rate.
Or should I be looking for something else to decide which ones to put in containers, say, dig them all up and only containerize the ones with certain root characteristics? What would those characteristics be?
Regards,
Lizz
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Hello Lizz,
It's not practical to save all of the seedlings a mature tree can produce, nor will all of them survive to adulthood (or even survive transplanting). If you would like to give some seedlings/saplings away, either wait until winter when they can be transplanted bare-root (the safer way to avoid spreading invasive species like jumping worms, which will be in their egg stage and not readily visible that time of year), since bare-root trees moved in winter shouldn't experience too much stress, or move them spring or fall.
In fall, putting them into pots has the benefit of digging smaller root systems than if the trees were kept in the ground another six months (as root growth will continue long after the leaves have fallen), but is comes with the risk of winter damage or death if the pots they overwinter in freeze and thaw too many times, or if they dry out too much between waterings.
In spring, putting them into pots means that you'll be dealing with larger root systems, potentially causing the transplants more stress, but you avoid the risk of overwintering the root balls above-ground. Each option has a trade-off, so it's up to you how you want to proceed. (You could try some of each.) Any size of sapling will need a pot size that easily accommodates its current root mass volume, and they might not be consistent in size, even if the above-ground portions of the tree look similar in stature. They would need to be potted on a case-by-case basis.
The acorns of white oak group species of oaks (White Oak, Swamp White Oak, Chestnut Oak, Bur Oak, etc.) germinate quickly after falling from the parent tree. Therefore, they will germinate in autumn and it's not likely any will germinate in spring if you opt to remove this fall's crop. The acorns of red oak group species of oaks (Pin Oak, Scarlet Oak, Red Oak, Willow Oak, etc.) need winter stratification (exposure to chilling) and will not germinate until the following spring, even though they shed in autumn.
Miri
It's not practical to save all of the seedlings a mature tree can produce, nor will all of them survive to adulthood (or even survive transplanting). If you would like to give some seedlings/saplings away, either wait until winter when they can be transplanted bare-root (the safer way to avoid spreading invasive species like jumping worms, which will be in their egg stage and not readily visible that time of year), since bare-root trees moved in winter shouldn't experience too much stress, or move them spring or fall.
In fall, putting them into pots has the benefit of digging smaller root systems than if the trees were kept in the ground another six months (as root growth will continue long after the leaves have fallen), but is comes with the risk of winter damage or death if the pots they overwinter in freeze and thaw too many times, or if they dry out too much between waterings.
In spring, putting them into pots means that you'll be dealing with larger root systems, potentially causing the transplants more stress, but you avoid the risk of overwintering the root balls above-ground. Each option has a trade-off, so it's up to you how you want to proceed. (You could try some of each.) Any size of sapling will need a pot size that easily accommodates its current root mass volume, and they might not be consistent in size, even if the above-ground portions of the tree look similar in stature. They would need to be potted on a case-by-case basis.
The acorns of white oak group species of oaks (White Oak, Swamp White Oak, Chestnut Oak, Bur Oak, etc.) germinate quickly after falling from the parent tree. Therefore, they will germinate in autumn and it's not likely any will germinate in spring if you opt to remove this fall's crop. The acorns of red oak group species of oaks (Pin Oak, Scarlet Oak, Red Oak, Willow Oak, etc.) need winter stratification (exposure to chilling) and will not germinate until the following spring, even though they shed in autumn.
Miri
Miri,
Wow, thank you. Even knowing next to nothing about this subject, I can tell you have given a very complete answer.
Regards,
Lizz
You're welcome!
