Acorn float test

The floaters were left in a bucket on the deck and have all been ravaged by squirrels. Not one left.I have no way to plant all of these this Fall and have no means to refrigerate them till Spring.
If you cannot plant all of the acorns, let the squirrels do it for you. Distribute large amounts of acorns in a small area where you want oaks. You want to overwhelm the squirrels where they will eat some, but bury most of them for you. They don't always remember where they buried them so trees will sprout in the spring. If you have time, the acorns, and don't really care exactly where the trees are grown, the squirrels will definitely plant them for you.
 
Yes, the cap should be removed for the float test, but it isn't always necessary. As you know, some will sink with the cap on. I have read that you can leave them soaking for 24 hours to allow the acorns to rehydrate. I gathered about 75 Shumard oak acorns out of a Sam's parking lot this week. About half initially floated. I removed the sinkers and let them soak. I had about another 20 sink in less than 24 hours. Just because they float does not mean they are not viable. The sinkers are in the fridge and I planted the floaters in a flower bed out of the way. If anything comes up, I will transplant it and consider it a bonus.

There is a guide that may be worth your time reading if you are not familiar with it already. It is called Collection and Care of Acorns, A Practical Guide For Seed Collectors And Nursery Managers. The last link I had for it was
http://www.nsl.fs.fed.us/collection and care of acorns.pdf but it doesn't seem to be currently working for me.

I found it here. Collection and Care of Acorns http://fliphtml5.com/kfrs/jele I found I could print it to OneNote. It added a plank page to the beginning when I did.

Eugene

ETA
I found it in another place. You can download it as a PDF from here. http://docplayer.net/22166116-Colle...for-seed-collectors-and-nursery-managers.html
 
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If you cannot plant all of the acorns, let the squirrels do it for you. Distribute large amounts of acorns in a small area where you want oaks. You want to overwhelm the squirrels where they will eat some, but bury most of them for you. They don't always remember where they buried them so trees will sprout in the spring. If you have time, the acorns, and don't really care exactly where the trees are grown, the squirrels will definitely plant them for you.
I actually thought of that but it seems too easy. My luck a couple deer would park over the pile and scarf them all down. As for now they are in a neighbors shop fridge.
As for removing the caps, I found them very easy to remove after soaking for 24 hrs.

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HOWDY Jeff! I have picked up burr oak acorns from THAT tree myself - maybe 5-6 years ago. I live just a mile or two away. There's several behind the walmart in the retention area that produced well too.
 
HOWDY Jeff! I have picked up burr oak acorns from THAT tree myself - maybe 5-6 years ago. I live just a mile or two away. There's several behind the walmart in the retention area that produced well too.
Yes, I've seen those other trees as well. Maybe I'm lazy but picking the ones up off the asphalt sure is easy !
 
I have been checking daily on some burs I planted but the deer must be standing there waiting.I picked a few of tree do i let them dry before taking caps off
 
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