Thoughts on soil prep for acorn planting.

[Kurt]

Heading out to water the surviving oak seedlings next weekend. It'll be triple digit KS hot. Been thinking about doing 10-20 more acorn plantings this fall but wanting to try something else this time. If I can handle the heat early or late, I may spade out 2'x2' squares in the old pasture. PH is good and soil is sandy loam. Trying to create a deal where I can dump 3-4 gallons into a depression for watering seedlings next summer. And removing the native grass root competition. Would also adding some 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 fertilizer now be a good idea as well? Planning on 10-10-10 for the seedlings in Feb.

Current oaks have as of last time about a 80% survival rate. Not sure how many are still going but will know soon. When I water these, the water tends to run off a bit if I get inpatient. Thus the thought of the depressions. We'll see I guess. Just rambling thoughts prior to seasons starting up lol.

 

[RGrizzzz]

Mix some soil moist crystals in the holes to help retain water.

 

[catscratch]

Good luck. 80% is great in my opinion.

 

[Kurt]

Mix some soil moist crystals in the holes to help retain water.

Looked at some videos of these crystals. Seems like they may help and used correctly I don't see a downside. Planning on digging out sod, then digging a couple gallons of dirt, mixing some of those in, maybe a half cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer and repacking hole with this mix. Then in late Nov I'll plant 2-3 acorns in each spot hoping for germination of at least one. I had good results last year without doing this but trying to beat dry spells next year if possible. The current crop of bur oak seedlings is hanging in there as of last weekend when I watered them all again.

Each hole will need fencing and a t post for protection same as this year. Hoping this year's seedlings will over winter well and jump a bit more next year.

 

[RGrizzzz]

Looked at some videos of these crystals. Seems like they may help and used correctly I don't see a downside. Planning on digging out sod, then digging a couple gallons of dirt, mixing some of those in, maybe a half cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer and repacking hole with this mix. Then in late Nov I'll plant 2-3 acorns in each spot hoping for germination of at least one. I had good results last year without doing this but trying to beat dry spells next year if possible. The current crop of bur oak seedlings is hanging in there as of last weekend when I watered them all again.

Each hole will need fencing and a t post for protection same as this year. Hoping this year's seedlings will over winter well and jump a bit more next year.

When making the "holes" I'd try to go deep. If you have an auger, I'd try to get down 18" plus. You're more likely to retain water that way. I'm planning to do some acorn planting this fall. I have a 3" Stihl auger, and I plan to auger holes to loosen the soil, and then put the nuts in and tube. If I was worried about droughts, I'd mix the soil moist in and get the soil back into the holes.