5 Characterisitics of an excellent White Oak habitat tree:
Why You Should Monitor Parent Tree Production
The ideal “soft-mast” white oak habitat tree probably demonstrates
5 key characteristics on a consistent basis. Just as persons display individual differences, oak trees undoubtably vary regarding the frequency of these 5 key characteristics. Listing them in a perceived/assumed order of importance finds frequency-of-fruiting at the top of the list. During any 5-year period, an oak tree might fruit from 0 among 5 to 5 years in a row… or some intermediate number of years (e.g., 3 or 4).
Number and size of nuts produced are probably number 2 and3 among the 5 characteristics; however, an argument could be made regarding which should be #2 (smaller number of bigger nuts vs a larger number of smaller nuts). I would submit the 4th key characteristics is drop time for the tree; ceteris paribus, a later drop time is superior to an earlier drop time (mid-November vs early-September .. might depend on bow hunting vs gun hunting and season start by region). Last but not least is the growth rate of the tree (fast grower vs slow grower). When one orders seedlings from sources like government agencies, its pot-luck or a crap shoot regarding these key characteristics of the parent tree since most – if not all – of the seeds for these seedlings are purchased from seed gatherers. One way to overcome the potential deficiencies of unknown-quality seedlings is to purchase oak trees from commercial suppliers like The Wildlife Group or Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries; firms that frequently sell hybrid or natural selection (e.g., Bucks Unlimited at Forrest Keeling) trees that are marketed as possessing most-or-all of the 5 key traits.
A
better or at least cheaper way, it seems to me, is to identify various species of oak trees in your community/area and survey these trees every fall to identify those which would make the best parent trees with regard to the 5 key characteristics. In a few years, and at most 5-6, you’ll know which oak trees in your area would make the best/better parent tree from which to gather acorns. For example, I have numerous Kindred Spirit col.-white-oak trees that have fruited for 5 years in a row. However, acorn size and drop times vary; eliminating some for consideration as parent/source trees.
I have a Bur Oak that
fruits frequently (4 out of 5), produces
lots of
larger nuts and
drops later than most of the other Bur Oaks in the area. Same with my best English Oak; this tree is only about 13 years old (fast grower with early – in life – heavy production), yet it has cranked out copious numbers of large (for an English Oak) acorns for the 6 years I have observed it. I could provide other examples like swamp white oaks, but you get the point. Some will argue
they don’t have time … to survey trees on an annual basis or to wait 5 years to gather nuts and start trees (their age necessitates purchase of trees with known properties from commercial vendors). I have no argument with the latter issue regarding age; however, with regard to the other aspect of time, I believe surveying key oak trees in the fall takes less time than one might imagine.
Visit cemeteries, school yards – especially larger state universities, govt. building landscapes, arboretums, etc. and you’ll develop a list (as extensive as you want) of the locations of white oak trees by species. It takes reasonably little time to check on them starting in early fall.
The last thing, it seems to me, a habitat junkie wants to do is plant a bunch of oak tree and 12-15 years later find that many or most or poor producers. Will the semi-natural-selection model I have offered guarantee all of your trees will be great mast trees? NO, but it will provide good odds that many of them will be stellar performers. Good luck!
VERY sorry for long post; hope it is helpful!
P.S. I'm not saying wait 5 years before you gather seed and start trees; gather seeds and start trees this year in fall/spring … but over time you will determine better parent trees (you can replace trees grown earlier or supplement them with new stock).
