How to Plant an Oak Tree

It just takes an acorn to grow a majestic oak tree. For an easier start, however, you can purchase an oak tree sapling at the garden center. Two of the most common oak trees are the red oak and the white oak.   

Step 1 - Growing from an Acorn

Gather acorns from the ground beneath an established oak tree in late September to early November. Acorns should be plump without splits or rotting. White oak acorns can be planted immediately, but red oak acorns need to be stored until the following spring.

White oak acorns mature and germinate in one season while the red oak acorns take 2 seasons to mature. The red oak acorns stay dormant until germinating the following spring. 

Step 2 - Storing Acorns

Place red oak acorns in a plastic bag with damp peat moss or saw dust. Close the bag and put it in a refrigerator set to 40 degrees. Check acorns throughout the winter to ensure that they are still slightly damp. 

Step 3 - Planting Acorns

Fill 1-gallon planting pots with potting soil. Place acorns on their sides into the soil. Loosely cover each with soil and water. Pots should have drainage holes and resistant to freezing. 

Step 4 - Transplanting Acorns

Dig a hole that is the depth of the pot and twice as wide. Remove the root ball and place it in the hole with the root crown at soil level. Pack the soil into the hole and soak it with water. 

Step 5 - Preparing a Hole for a Young Oak Tree

Prepare a hole a few inches smaller than the depth of the tree’s root ball. Make the width of the hole 3 times larger than the dimension of the root ball. 

Step 6 - Planting a Young Oak Tree

Plant the oak tree in the middle of the hole. Do not add anything to the soil. Fill the hole in with soil, creating a mound around the base of the tree. 

Step 7 - Watering a Young Oak Tree

Water the oak tree regularly for the first year to establish the root system. Slow watering helps the oak tree become hardy. Be careful not to overwater the oak tree because too much water can cause root rot. The best way to water is with a soaker ball, soaker hose or a drip irrigation system. Always place the water device a few inches away from the tree. 

Step 8 - Mulch for Oak Tree

Use organic mulch to lock in moisture and to keep the soil from becoming compacted. Spread a layer of mulch 2 to 3 inches deep around the tree, taking care not to come in direct contact with the base of the tree. Good types of mulch to use for the oak tree are Aphelia hay, woodchips or pine needles.