Watering oak

Content:

• Oak origin
• Oak care and location
• Cutting oak
• Fertilizing oak
• Watering oak

Oak origin

The oak (Quercus) belongs to the oak family (Fagaceae) and is widespread throughout the northern hemisphere. In Central Europe, the English oak (Quercus robur) and the Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) and in the Mediterranean region the cork oak and the holm oak.

Oaks are long-lived, deep-rooted trees that can live up to 1000 years. The oak tree is of great ecological importance: an old oak tree supports approximately 2300 different animal and plant species, with over 300 species completely dependent on it. For example, more than 700 different lichen species grow on oak trunks and branches.

The oak also has great cultural significance: It was a sacred tree in various cultures and was praised in legends, poems, and songs. Even today, the oak is considered the national tree of Germany. Its wood is hard and durable. It was used for shipbuilding and for church timbers.

Oak care and location

Oaks are extremely robust trees that can adapt to many soil types. However, they prefer sunny locations with well-drained, deep, and nutrient-rich soil. While young oaks are still sensitive to drought, older trees develop a deep root system that helps them draw water from deeper layers of the soil.

Cutting oak

Oak trees generally don't require regular pruning. However, if you want to give your oak a more attractive look, you can prune it in winter or late winter and remove dead or damaged branches. However, you should avoid major pruning, as wounds on oak trees heal slowly and can provide entry points for fungi and disease.

Here you can find more information about Cutting trees.

Fertilizing oak

Older oak trees generally don't require fertilization because their roots are deep in the soil, allowing them to absorb nutrients. Young oak trees or oak trees in nutrient-poor soils benefit from organic fertilization in the spring, such as compost or horn shavings. A mulch layer of organic materials, which releases nutrients into the soil over time, may also be helpful.

Here you can find more information about Fertilizing trees.

Watering oak

Young oaks should be watered regularly in the first few years after planting, especially during dry periods. Mature oaks are very drought-resistant and generally do not require additional irrigation.

Please note that the Watering trees There are a few things to consider:

• To ensure that the water can really reach the root area, you should give a lot of water at once, ideally 75 – 100 liters of water in one watering.
• The water should be released as slowly as possible so the soil can absorb it. If the water is applied too quickly, it will run off the surface, as dry soil can only absorb a small amount of water. Therefore, we recommend using tree watering bags. 
• The baumbad watering bags They release water drop by drop into the soil through small holes over a period of several hours. This ensures even soil moisture throughout the entire root zone, allowing the roots to absorb the water well.
• Attaching and filling the water bags is simple and straightforward. The bag is placed around the tree trunk like a jacket and zipped shut. Next, fill the watering bag with enough water so that, after further adjustment, no wrinkles remain in the lower area, and then allow it to fill. For trees with larger trunk diameters, multiple bags can also be zipped together.
• Once the water has drained through, the bag is removed and can be used for additional trees. This saves water, time, and money.

A layer of mulch around the trunk can help retain soil moisture. 

Here you can find the tree profiles

• Sessile oak
• English oak
• Holm oak 
• cork oak