While there are hundreds of oak species in many parts of the globe, our focus is on white oaks and red oaks-the two most common groups of oaks found here in parts of Canada and the United States. Some also assert that this may be the most reliable way. To grow one, you can buy potted, bareroot, or burlap-wrapped oaks for planting, but it’s pretty cool to instead grow your own from acorns found right in your neighborhood. If you have the space and choose an oak species native to your region, it’s certainly one of the best eco-beneficial plant choices you can make. Related: About Oak Trees: Natural History, Ecological Benefits, & Mast Years While many of these traits are not unique to oaks alone, as the dominant tree in American forests with more biomass than any other tree, their contribution is truly significant. Once fallen, those same, slow-to-decompose leaves protect numerous species on the ground.īelow the soil surface, in the root zone, carbon is sequestered and rain water is managed.Īnd we haven’t even mentioned the many thousand acorns produced over the life of the tree-a food source for various animals, providing fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Up top, their huge leaf canopies slow rain fall and provide much needed shelter and shade. ![]() With numerous invertebrate and arthropod species relying on these trees, oaks are indeed what we call “natural bird feeders.” Just think of all the caterpillars one oak tree could sustain and how many birds they in turn nourish.
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