Pedunculate oak, Quercus robur – profile, location & care

The pedunculate oak symbolizes the legendary German forest like no other tree. With its mighty habit, the Quercus robur really cannot be overlooked. Its dark green, lobed foliage frames dainty catkins in spring and countless brown acorns in fall before ending its winter dormancy with a rich golden yellow hue. For many hobby gardeners, the German oak is at the top of the wish list of trees to be cultivated. The details in the following profile should reinforce the endeavor. Before embarking on the lifelong project, it is advisable to deepen your knowledge of location and care.

Characteristics

  • Plant family of the beech family (Fagaceae).
  • Name of the genus: Oak (Quercus).
  • Species name: English oak (Quercus robur).
  • Native to almost all of Europe.
  • Growth height up to 40 meters and beyond.
  • Life expectancy 500 to 1000 years and longer.
  • Smooth, gray-green bark, later black-brown and cracked.
  • Male catkins and female, rounded flowers in May.
  • From September brown acorns on long stalks.
  • Other designations: summer oak, German oak.

In addition to its high ornamental value, the pedunculate oak has a number of useful advantages to offer. Their hard wood provides valuable furniture, parquet flooring, stairs, railway sleepers and much more. The acorns serve as nutritious food for tamed and wild animals such as wild boar. Our ancestors used extracts from the bark to remedy health disorders.

location

The pedunculate oak is assigned to the classic light tree species. Consequently, their demands on the site conditions are defined in particular by the relation of height growth to light intensity. The brighter it is, the faster its youth growth progresses. While they are still relatively tolerant of shade in the first 50 to 100 years of life, their desire for sunlight increases with age. This circumstance makes it at first glance a weak deciduous tree. However, since the location is always determined by the prevailing soil conditions, the Quercus robur compensates for this factor by being extremely tolerable to waterlogging and flooding. Even floods lasting three months do not affect the giant.

  • Sunny to partially shaded position.
  • Nutrient-rich, deep soil, likes fresh and moist.
  • Any pH value from acidic to alkaline is accepted.
  • Also holds its own in places exposed to strong winds.

Thanks to its tolerant attitude to standing water, the summer oak is ideally suited for decorative bank and embankment reinforcement along the garden pond or stream. Only with a lowering of the groundwater level it cannot cope and reacts with treetop drought.

Note: In the wild, the pedunculate oak deliberately avoids the competitive common beech. Both trees should therefore not be socialized in the private garden.

pour

The rapid growth at a young age causes a high water requirement, with an English oak that is not particularly drought-resistant anyway. The deciduous tree develops a deep-reaching taproot right from the start; however, additional watering is essential during periods of summer drought.

  • Pour pedunculate oak thoroughly when dry
  • Let the water hose run for at least 30 minutes
  • The younger the tree, the more frequently you water it

Especially in summer, the garden friend reduces the evaporation of rainwater by interrupting the capillaries in the ground. To do this, it takes the time after each shower to rake the soil of the tree disc about 3 cm deep. Now the percolated water no longer rises to the surface and condenses, but stops at the root system, allowing the English oak to use it more effectively.

In regions with little snow there is a risk of drought stress during the winter due to frost. If the thermometer stays at low minus temperatures for days without snow falling, the knowledgeable plant lover uses the first frost-free day to water his oak extensively.

Fertilize

Mother Nature provides a Quercus robur with a partner who helps the tree absorb nutrients from the soil. These are mycorrhizal fungi that wrap themselves around the roots and form a lifelong symbiosis with the deciduous tree. In return, the summer oak supplies sugar and carbohydrates that come from photosynthesis. A hobby gardener should not blindly rely on this natural mechanism. Especially when the Quercus robur is stressed by external influences, an additional nutrient supply is recommended.

  • In the spring, a long-term preparation is a good starting fertilization.
  • Alternatively, mulch the tree disc regularly with leaves, grass and compost.
  • Lime heavily acidic soil repeatedly during the growing season.

Since oak leaves rot only very slowly, they protect the plaice excellently from drying out and rampant weeds. Experienced hobby gardeners therefore leave the fallen leaves in the bed every year, especially since oak leaves are difficult to compost anyway.

To cut

The annual maintenance and shape cut plays a central role within the care protocol. English oaks are not pruned to encourage growth. Rather, the goal is to support the formation of the best possible natural habit and to eliminate disruptive factors. In this way, vitality and health are significantly strengthened. A good time to carry out the measure is a frost-free, overcast day during the winter sap dormancy.

  • Carefully thin out the crown of too dense, dry, damaged branches.
  • Prune criss-crossing and steeply upright branches at the base.
  • Pay attention to an inclined incision, always just above one eye.
  • If possible, tear off unwanted branches instead of cutting them off.
  • Never cut parallel to the trunk and do not leave stubs.
  • Leave a small distance to the astring so that the cambium can overflow it.

In no case should branches simply be cut in half and then left to their fate. Such an approach not only opens the door to pests and fungal spores, but also significantly affects the silhouette of a German oak. It turns out to be more advantageous to derive such branches. In this specific case, a branch is always cut above a branching side shoot.

multiply

Which hobby gardener is not tempted to witness at least once how an acorn is transformed into a mighty tree? Extensive botanical knowledge is not required for such a project, but a long thread of patience. Before the actual sowing is started, some simple, preparatory work is required. Healthy, brown acorns are collected in the autumn forest. When they get home, the gardener puts them in a pot of water. Any acorns floating on the surface are discarded. Fruits that are soft to the touch are also unsuitable. After this selection, the best quality seeds are available for successful sowing. Since these are cold germs, they will be stratified over the coming months. You are exposed to a cold stimulus,

  • Fill a plastic bag with damp sand or sphagnum and the acorns.
  • Store tightly closed in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator.
  • Check regularly for sufficient moisture for the next 6 weeks.

Experience has shown that after 40 to 45 days a tiny root breaks through the shell, which means that the cold phase is over. Small 5 cm pots are now filled with peat sand or coconut fiber and the germinating seeds are planted individually. The small root points downwards, with the acorn being thinly covered with substrate. In the following period, the seedling must not dry out at any time while it develops its roots on the warm, sunny window seat.

From the point of view of their natural constitution, the mini pedunculate oak could be planted outdoors as soon as it has rooted through its nursery pot. Since at this stage it is a coveted treat for squirrels, deer, mice and other animals, experienced gardeners decide to continue cultivating under glass.

  • Repot the young plants from a height of approx. 10 cm into a mixture of garden soil and sand.
  • Carefully handle the still tender taproot during this process.
  • Keep English oak and substrate constantly moist, but do not drown.
  • Give a dose of highly diluted liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks.

If the summer oak sheds its leaves in the following autumn, this is no cause for concern, but a completely natural process. It is up to the individual gardener to decide whether to plant the young tree this fall or nurture it through another winter. Adequate water supply should be consistent with bright to sunny lighting conditions.

Tip: The duration of the sowing is shortened if pre-germinated acorns are collected in the forest in spring and immediately planted in potting soil. Mother Nature then took over the stratification on her own.

plant

The pedunculate oak, grown by hand or purchased from the tree nursery, is planted either in spring or in autumn. Adequate preparation of the soil creates optimal growth conditions and significantly minimizes the probability of failure. The chosen planting site is carefully cleaned of weeds, roots and stones. The rake then loosens the soil deeply, especially with regard to the taproots that are supposed to gain a foothold here. During this work, the root ball of the tree is in a bucket of water to soak up plenty of water.

  • Dig a planting hole with 1.5 times the volume of the root ball
  • Mix excavation with compost or horse manure and horn shavings
  • In this case, you can safely do without drainage
  • Place the pedunculate oak in the middle of the pit, surround with soil and water
  • Do not plant the tree deeper than before transplanting.
  • Spread a thick layer of mulch to protect the soil from drying out.

Although a German oak has a proverbial resistance to windthrow, it has yet to build up this strength. It is therefore advisable to provide them with a support pole for the first two years. This is driven into the planting pit and tied to the tree trunk with suitable binding material. Special straps that are wide enough so that they do not grow into the bark are ideal.

Note: Mineral fertilizers have no place in the planting pit. The components are far too sharp for the delicate roots, causing life-threatening burns.

Valued Varieties

If you look around at the range of qualified tree nurseries, you will discover various breeds that are also suitable for cultivation in smaller gardens.

Gold-Eiche (Quercus sap Concordia’)

  • Growth height 6 to 10 meters.
  • Expressive tree with golden yellow leaves.

Column oak – Pyramid oak (Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’)

  • Growth height 15 to 20 meters.
  • Slim silhouette with a conical crown.

Common Oak (Quercus robur Pectinata)

  • Growth height 6 to 10 meters.
  • Decorative foliage with deeply incised leaves.

Common oak (Quercus robur ‘Atropurpurea’)

  • Growth height 4 to 6 meters.
  • Beautiful variety with deep red leaves.
  • Also suitable as a shrub and container plant.

Conclusion
Although represented throughout Europe, the pedunculate oak is considered to be the German tree par excellence. Therefore, the popular beech plant is often referred to as German oak. Of course, that should not be the only reason for cultivating this exorbitant deciduous tree in the garden. During its life cycle, which can last up to 1000 years, the Quercus robur dominates its surroundings with magnificent foliage. At the same time, their acorns provide nutritious food for a wide variety of animal species. Every hobby gardener should treat themselves to the experience of being there when an acorn turns into a tree. With good care, in the right location, it creates a natural gift that is passed on from generation to generation. All the fascinating attributes that her profile reveals will be the vital,

Kira Bellingham

I'm a homes writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience in publishing. I have worked across many titles, including Ideal Home and, of course, Homes & Gardens. My day job is as Chief Group Sub Editor across the homes and interiors titles in the group. This has given me broad experience in interiors advice on just about every subject. I'm obsessed with interiors and delighted to be part of the Homes & Gardens team.

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