Oak is a wild plant. Green oak, mighty and beautiful

October is the time to collect acorns. Collect acorns before the end of the month to sow in the spring.

Acorns are collected when they have already fallen from the tree. Acorns must be whole, large, and heavy. Brown color. Green acorns are not suitable because they are not ripe. Only ungerminated and clean seeds will be preserved well.

After planting in the spring, the seedlings need to be cared for all summer, and only when autumn comes again, the grown oak trees need to be moved to a permanent place: where the forest is being restored.

1 Finding an acorn

It is necessary to grow those tree species that grow naturally in your region. The European part of Russia is characterized by only one type of oak - pedunculate oak. You need to be able to distinguish it from the “guest” often found in cities from another continent - red oak. Fortunately, these oaks have different acorns: the red oak is round and pubescent, and the pedunculate oak is oval and smooth.

YOU CAN ' T PLANT AN ACORN IN A POT IN THE AUTUMN AND GROW IT IN AN APARTMENT IN WINTER.
Such trees grow weakened and do not take root well. Acorns need to be sown in the spring.

The spring acorn must overwinter in suitable conditions: lie all winter under a layer of snow in the forest or be stored in damp and cool conditions (in a refrigerator, cellar, special storage). You can find sprouting acorns in the forest or park. It is important not to dry out the acorn before sowing.

If it will be carried or transported for a long time, wrap it in a wet cloth and place it in a jar or an open (untied) plastic bag.

2 Choosing a container (pot) for growing oak

A ceramic or plastic flower pot, a paper glass for drinks, a piece of plastic bottle, a juice carton, or a popcorn “bucket” are suitable for this purpose.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE HEIGHT OF THE CONTAINER IS NOT LESS THAN 20 CM AND THE VOLUME IS NOT LESS THAN ONE LITER.

We make drainage holes in the bottom so that excess water comes out, and over time the root can grow through such a bottom without bending or twisting too much. Place the container on the pallet.

3 Filling the container with soil

It is better to use a “universal” flower soil
peat-based (for example, “Violet”).

4 Sowing an acorn

Make a hole in the center of the pot. Place the germinating acorn “on its side” (horizontally) at a depth of 2–3 cm. Sprinkle with earth.

5 Water regularly

Water the soil every few days as it dries out in the pot. The soil should be moist at the top, but not too wet.

6 We wait

The oak will first produce a long root, and 3-4 weeks after sowing a sprout will appear.

7 We provide good lighting

With weak natural light the seedling will not have time to grow large and strong enough in one season. This happens if the windows face north or are shaded tall buildings. If there are no other placement options, you can use a special lamp for plants (“warm daylight"), it will provide additional lighting from morning to evening. At night the tree should be in darkness.

8 We provide mineral nutrition

Approximately 1–1.5 months after germination, the oak will need any complex mineral fertilizer For indoor plants. Follow the instructions on the package.

DO NOT APPLY ORGANIC FERTILIZERS.

9 “Hardening off” the seedling

It is better from the very beginning (from spring) to keep the seedling in conditions close to outdoor ones. A balcony or open window sill is suitable for this. If this is not possible, then from the beginning of autumn, two to three weeks before planting the tree in a permanent place, begin to take the pot with the tree to the balcony or street, increasing the time period of “hardening” every day. At first, avoid strong sunlight.

10 Trimming the main root

Before planting, check to see if the taproot has grown through the bottom of your pot. If so, carefully cut off the part of the root that extends beyond the bottom with a knife or scissors. If not, cut off the part of the root that has curled up against the bottom.

FOR THE FURTHER LIFE OF THE OAK, IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE MAIN ROOT DOES NOT BEND OR TWIST - IT WILL REMAIN LIKE THIS FOR THE WHOLE LIFE.

11 Planting an oak tree in a permanent place

Replant the seedling to a permanent place, removing it with a clod of earth. To do this, just dig a hole a little deeper than your pot, loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole, place the seedling in it along with a lump of earth, press the soil tightly, and water. For large forest plantings, check the planting technology with the event organizers. If you plant several oak trees in a garden or park, remember that in adulthood the trees should not interfere with each other. To do this, plant oak trees at a distance of about 5 meters. When planting trees with foresters, oak trees are planted closer together to help the trees close together more quickly to form a forest environment.

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR OAK WARM IN YOUR APARTMENT FOR THE WINTER!

In spring, acorns should be sown as early as possible, when the moisture has not yet left the soil. Sowing dates depend on the region. For middle zone In Russia this is the end of April - beginning of May.

Every year, together with volunteers, we collect acorns in Moscow to restore mixed forests that are resistant to fires and diseases. This is possible thanks to the help of supporters. Support the project “Reviving our forest”!

It’s hard to imagine that a beautiful spreading oak tree can grow from a small, inconspicuous acorn! However, if you have the patience, you can even grow it yourself. Of course, few gardening projects can match this in terms of duration, but just think how the oak tree you grow will delight your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Steps

Part 1

Selection and planting of acorns

Collect acorns in early fall. Acorns are best collected before mid-autumn, before they fall from the trees. Choose acorns that are free of worms, holes, and mold. Suitable acorns should be brownish with a slight green tint, although they appearance may differ depending on the type of oak on which they grew. As a rule, those that are easily removed from the cap are best for harvesting.

Perform a "buoyancy test". Place the collected acorns in a bucket of water. Wait a couple of minutes. Throw away any acorns that are left floating - they are spoiled.

• The acorn can float because a worm or larva has eaten a cavity in it. An acorn destroyed from the inside by mold can also float.
• If at any point you notice that the acorn is soft to the touch, discard that too. Soft, shapeless acorns are rotten inside.

1. Put the remaining acorns into hibernation. Remove the “good” acorns from the water and dry them. Place them in a large resealable bag with dry wood shavings, vermiculite, moss mixture or other growing medium that can hold moisture. A particularly large bag should hold up to 250 acorns. Place the bag in the refrigerator for a month and a half or longer - as long as it takes for the acorn to germinate.

   • This process is known as stratification and involves exposing the seed to cold to mimic the natural conditions the seed experiences when it falls to the ground. This starts the process of seed germination in the spring.
   • Check the acorns periodically. The growing medium should only be slightly moist. If it is too wet, the acorns may rot; if it is too dry, the acorns will not grow.

2. Monitor the growth of your acorns. Most acorns will begin to germinate in a moist environment, even when stored in the refrigerator. The root tip may begin to break through the membrane around the beginning of December (late autumn or early winter). Regardless of whether the root has sprouted or not, the acorns are ready for planting after 40–45 days of storage.

   • Handle the seedlings carefully - the protruding roots are easy to damage.

3. Plant each acorn in a pot or container. Find small diameter (5 cm) seedling pots (or large plastic cups) for your plants. Fill them with good quality garden soil (some sources suggest adding crushed peat moss). Do not fill the soil to the top; leave about 2 centimeters at the top for watering. Plant your acorn shallowly with the root facing down.

   • If you are using plastic glasses, poke holes in the sides at the bottom of the glass to prevent excess water from sitting.
   • If you prefer, you can also try simply burying the acorn in the garden. Dig in the root and carefully press one side of the acorn into suitable rich, soft soil. This will only work if the root is already well developed and long enough. Please note that this way the seedlings will be defenseless against mice, squirrels and other pests. Then it would be better to install protection like a cage around it.

4. Water the seedlings. Water the plant until water flows out of the holes at the bottom of the container. Water frequently in the following weeks, without allowing the soil to dry out. During this period of life, keep the seedlings indoors. Place it on a windowsill near a south-facing window so it gets light. winter sun. You won't notice rapid growth right away. This is because at this stage of their life, plants are developing a taproot beneath the soil surface.

   • If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, place your seedlings on a windowsill near a north-facing window.
   • If your plants don't get enough sunlight, use a special seedling lamp.

   Part 2

   Transplanting seedlings

   1. Monitor the plant's growth. Various sources They give different advice on what to do next - some recommend transplanting the seedlings immediately into open ground After a few weeks of growth in a pot, others advise gradually increasing the time the plant spends outside before planting it in open ground. Still others say that you need to transplant the seedlings into a pot bigger size so that it grows even more, and only then plant it in the ground. Although there is not only one the right way To determine when seedlings can be planted in open ground, there are signs that will indicate to you that they are ready for transplanting. Suitable transplant candidate:

      • has a height of approximately 10–15 centimeters and small leaves;
      • has white roots that look healthy;
      • clearly outgrown his pot;
      • has a noticeably grown main root;
      • ranges in age from several weeks to several months.

   2. Harden off seedlings before transplanting into open ground. Moving an unprepared plant from indoors to outdoors can destroy it. Therefore, a week or two before transplanting into open ground, begin to expose the seedlings outside for several hours. Over the course of one to two weeks, gradually increase the time the seedlings spend outdoors. After this, she will be ready for transplantation.

      • Make sure that the wind does not knock over the pots with seedlings and break them.

   3. Choose a landing spot. Location means a lot. Choose a location for your oak tree that will have plenty of room to grow and will not cause inconvenience as the tree grows large. There are a few things to consider when choosing a location for your oak tree:

      Prepare a landing site. Once you have chosen a suitable location for your tree, remove the turf in a circle approximately 1 meter in diameter. Using a shovel, dig the soil to a depth of about 25 centimeters, breaking up large lumps. If the soil is dry, moisten it yourself or wait until it rains before planting your tree.

      Dig a hole. In the middle of your meter circle, dig a hole 60–90 centimeters deep and 30 centimeters wide. The exact depth of your hole depends on the length of your seedling's main root - it should be deep enough to fit it.

      Replant your oak. Carefully place your oak tree in the prepared hole with the roots facing down and the leaves facing up. Make sure there is enough depth to accommodate the oak root. Cover with soil and compact lightly. Water the plant after transplanting.

      • Compact the soil around the oak seedling, sloping away from the seedling so that water does not linger near the tree trunk and damage it.
      • Place a circle of mulch or bark pieces about a foot away from the tree to keep the ground moist and prevent weeds from sprouting. Make sure it doesn't touch the trunk.
      • To increase your chances of success, it may be worth planting several acorns in one location. In this case, plant your sprouted acorns directly into the soil: clear an area measuring 60 by 60 centimeters and place two acorns on it, covering them with a layer of soil 2-5 centimeters thick.

   Part 3

   Caring for Growing Oak Trees

   1. Protect your oak trees. Oak trees - especially young and fragile ones - are a food source for many herbivores. Mice and squirrels love to snack on acorns and can easily dig them up. Small seedlings are defenseless against hares, goats and other animals that feed on leaves. To make sure your trees are not destroyed, take steps to protect them. Place chain-link fences around trees or a strong plastic fence around the trunk to keep animals out.

      • If you live in an area where there are deer, you should also protect the tree canopy with netting.
      • You may want to use pesticides to protect your tree from a variety of insects, including aphids and chafers. Be careful when choosing pesticides and use only those that will not harm your tree, your family members or pets.

   2. Irrigate trees during dry weather. The long root of the oak allows it to extract moisture from the depths even when the soil on the surface is completely dry. Oak trees generally do not need to be watered during winter and rainy months. However, when oak trees are still young, they can suffer from hot, dry weather. Install a drip irrigation system - this good way deliver water to young trees when they need it most. Use approximately 30 liters of water for drip irrigation in one to two weeks. Irrigation during the hottest and driest months will be required for the first two years. As the tree grows, its intensity can be reduced.

      As the tree grows, it will need less and less care. As your oak tree grows and its roots go deeper, you will need to care for it less and less. Eventually it will become large and tall enough that animals will not be able to destroy it, and the roots will become deep enough to survive the summer without watering. Gradually, over several years, reduce the amount of care your tree receives (which only includes watering during the dry months and protecting it from animals). Over time, your tree will be able to grow on its own without any problems. You have given yourself and your family a gift that will stay with you for life!

Gardeners' interest in how to grow oak from an acorn is based on the need to grow quality crops. When purchasing seedlings, you cannot be completely sure that it will successfully adapt to specific conditions. climatic conditions. Using the fruits of mature trees makes it possible to evaluate its variety and growth rate.

Such an original method of breeding a crop, like developing an oak from an acorn, is a more labor-intensive process and will require more time and knowledge than using ready-made seedlings. It is a set of activities, including: preparation planting material, picking, choosing a place for permanent tree placement.

Preparation of material for planting

Oak is grown only from high-quality fruits. For successful cultivation of the crop, preference should be given to solid material, without mold or damage. Its shell should have a glossy structure, without signs of wear. Another sign of its readiness for germination is the easy removal of the hard cap. It is recommended to prepare it with a reserve in order to subsequently be able to select the most viable sprouts. Before processing it, the shell of several specimens should be opened to assess the condition and suitability for cultivation. High-quality fruits represent 2 parts of saturated yellow color, at the junction of which the embryo is located. It is necessary to stop using specimens with gray flaccid particles.

The selection of acorns is carried out in autumn or spring. The collected material is subjected to additional testing, which consists of dipping in water. You need to pour the fruits into a container with liquid and observe the process. Individual specimens will float up. The acorns remaining at the bottom are used to form sprouts, and those that rise to the surface are considered unsuitable. At the same stage, excessively soft specimens are screened out. The selected material is washed in a soapy solution to eliminate germs and mold.

Before germinating an acorn, it is subjected to stratification - exposure to low temperatures. To do this, dried acorns are placed in a container with moss or shavings that retain moisture. After this, the container is removed to a cool place for germination. It is recommended to store the fruits in a cellar with sufficient humidity and ventilation. Germination of the material occurs at a temperature within 0°C. The container is kept indoors for about 3 months, after which the prepared material is added to the soil in the spring.

The stratification procedure is a measure of the primary hardening of acorns; it is necessary for the emergence of seedlings and better adaptation to natural conditions. It is necessary to periodically check the condition of the storage, avoiding excessive moisture or dryness. In the first case, the seedlings are subject to rotting, in the second - loss of germination. Disruption of normal air circulation contributes to the proliferation of bacteria and the development of diseases that are detrimental to hatching fruits.

Planting material into the ground

To propagate oak from acorns, 2 methods are used: immediate application of prepared fruits into open ground and development of a seedling from it, followed by placement in the garden. In the first case, the procedure is most often carried out in the spring, which is due to better adaptation of the material in the soil. While the probability of its successful development in the fall does not exceed 10% of the total number of all plantings. To grow an oak tree from an acorn at home, they most often resort to the first method. Despite its painstaking nature, with its help, in most cases, a small fruit successfully develops into a seedling, and subsequently into a strong tree.

To apply seeds, use both general flower containers and individual cups. In the first case, it is easiest to move the soil closer to warmth and light. The advantage of the second method is that there is no need for mandatory picking. You just need to make holes at the bottom to ensure the outflow of liquid and prevent the acorns from rotting.

For planting seeds, both store-bought formulations and self-prepared mixtures are used. A prerequisite is high soil fertility. To obtain a homemade composition, combine garden soil with humus and leaf substrate. To plant oak, use loose soil, free of sand or clay impurities. It is recommended to use soil from healthy oak trees growing in parks and forests.

Distinctive feature planting acorns from seeds of other crops - a method of introducing into the soil. The fruits should not be placed vertically; using light pressure, they should be placed on their sides. It is recommended to use the method of planting oak trees in cups. This measure is due to the intensive development of the root system, the powerful lashes of which are firmly intertwined with nearby specimens, which will complicate further picking.

After being added to the soil, the oak seeds are watered. For successful adaptation of the material, it is important to constantly maintain high humidity of the substrate, but not allow it to overflow. It is necessary to place the containers in an area well lit by the sun, free from drafts. Emerging green shoots should be provided with diffused lighting, and in the hottest hours should be completely moved into the shade.

Subsequent development of the seedling

After 1.5-2 months after adding acorns to the soil, the first shoots can be observed, from which leaves will later develop. If for the formation of seedlings they used not individual cups, but common containers, as the shoots develop, the seedlings should be picked. The procedure is carried out for developed stems with a height of at least 15 cm. Before planting a seedling, the following characteristics of its readiness for the procedure should be assessed:

• developed root system consisting of healthy light branches;
• strong stem;
• the size of the sprout exceeding the volume of the container.

Strong seedlings are moved into large pots for better root development and the formation of the trunk of the future tree. Some gardeners recommend that you immediately plant the shoots in open ground, skipping the intermediate stage of transferring them to a large pot. But this method is fraught with risk and can lead to premature death of the plant. It is recommended to gradually adapt it to the conditions of the natural environment, periodically exposing it to open air.

This measure is aimed at hardening the future tree. Without it, even the strongest seedling will not be able to successfully adapt and grow into a tree. This procedure is carried out only in the warm season, avoiding placing the container in a draft. After 2 years after adding acorns to the soil, the formed trunk can be planted in open ground.

Planting a seedling in the garden

It must be remembered that the crown of an oak tree can reach a width of over 20 m, and therefore it should not be placed in the front part of the site so that it does not block the house. For the same reason, it is necessary to properly prepare the planting holes so that the seedlings can take root firmly in the soil. Oak trees should be planted in recesses of small diameter but significant depth. For better placement of roots, it is recommended to prepare pits in the shape of a cone or triangle.

For successful cultivation oak tree, it is important to choose the right place for its permanent placement. The process is carried out based on the following rules:

• remoteness from water supply systems and buildings, the repair of which can easily damage the branched root system of the tree;
• remoteness from other green spaces, which is due to the crop’s high need for moisture;
• growing in areas abundantly watered by sunlight;
• If you want to protect or fill the house with light, you should place the tree on the east or west side.

Only those seedlings that have fully sprouted and become strong can be moved from indoors to open areas. To do this, the bottom of the pit is dotted with a thick layer of drainage, on which a composition of wood ash, fluff lime, a small amount of potassium and compost in combination with garden soil. It is important that the part of the trunk flowing from the root rises 3-4 cm above the soil. After falling asleep, the soil should be further compacted to better fix the young oak tree.

During the first days after planting, the seedlings are watered abundantly. You can use the standard method of moistening the soil, but experienced gardeners recommend using the drip irrigation method, which consists of placing a system of hoses and dispensers around the pit. This way, the oak acorns are completely irrigated without the accumulation of liquid in the hole, which can cause rotting of the roots. It is important to remove weeds and loosen the soil in a timely manner. Before the onset of cold weather, you need to prune the tree, cutting off dry, non-viable shoots. As the oak tree adapts and takes root, it will no longer need to carry out these manipulations, requiring only watering on dry days.

Oak trees grown from an acorn are planted at home in early spring. This measure is due to the need for successful adaptation, better strengthening of the roots in the new soil before the formation of leaves. For the same purpose, additional measures should be taken to protect seedlings from pests. It is recommended to treat the young tree with pesticides to prevent damage to the shoots by aphids. Young oak trees should be fenced to protect them from rabbits and other domestic animals that feed on the leaves. For several years after planting, the trunk should be mulched or wrapped with dense material to protect it from freezing.

Growing a tree from an acorn is a labor-intensive process consisting of several stages. The basis for breeding crops using this method is right choice and preparation of planting material. After this, it is necessary to form full-fledged seedlings, which are brought into open ground.

Video - How to grow an oak tree from an acorn

Quercus) is a genus of shrubs and trees from the beech family. The oak tree is widely renowned for its power and strength, and can reach a height of 50 meters. These trees grow rather slowly, first adding centimeters in height every year, and only then in width.

How long does an oak tree live?

The oak tree is considered a long-liver and is often associated with wisdom and durability. And for good reason. The lifespan of oak is up to 5 centuries, although in history there are specimens that live more than 1000 years.

Description of oak. What does oak look like?

Oak is a deciduous tree. The size of the oak tree is impressive. Its average height is about 35 meters, although 60-meter giants are sometimes found. The thickness of oak can also be quite impressive. The oak trunk is on average about 1.5 m in diameter, covered with dark bark, dotted with cracks, twisting and wrinkled.

The shape of the tree leaf depends on the type of oak. Oak leaves can be lobed, serrated, pinnate, and others. Oak branches are indirect, curved. This tortuosity is explained by the fact that the oak tree is very responsive to Sun rays. As shoots grow, they are drawn towards the light and therefore change direction depending on the period of the year, weather and time of day.

Root system oak is very well developed. Typically, oak roots are huge and go deep into the ground. The oak crown and its shape largely depend on the conditions in which the trees grow. In forests, oak trunks are mostly straight and even, while separately growing plants on the plains spread out very widely. The girth of the crowns of such oak trees is measured in meters. If a tree has grown in extreme conditions, for example, with a lack of moisture or under frequent exposure to wind, then the crowns of such oaks are deformed and not entirely clear and regular in shape.

Oak flowers

Oak blooms in late spring. Oak flowers are small and green, invisible among the foliage. Male flowers consist only of stamens, female flowers - of a pistil. Male flowers are collected in inflorescences that look like earrings. The female ones are on short stems; they look like green seeds with a red tip. It is from the female oak flowers that acorns grow.

Types of oak

Growing all over the world a large number of types of oaks. In total there are about 600 of them, although there is evidence that there are no more than 450 of them.

The most popular types of oaks:

• English oak;
• Weeping oak;
• Swamp oak;
• Sessile oak;
• Georgian oak;
• Long-legged oak;
• Mongolian oak;
• Chestnut oak.

Where does oak grow?

Most often, oak is found in regions with temperate climate, in the Northern Hemisphere. Although some species of these giants are also found in the tropics, however, only in those places where the air temperature is not very high, mainly in high mountain regions.

Oak trees grow well in rich soils and love average level humidity, but species are known that exist well in swamps, or, conversely, in conditions of lack of moisture.

How to grow an oak tree from an acorn

Oak trees bear fruit starting 30 years after planting. Oak fruits are acorns. Decorative types oaks are quite easily propagated by grafting. The best option oak planting - in the fall, before the first snow and frost. However, during this period, oak acorns can be eaten by small rodents, so they are often stored until spring and planted with the onset of warm days. For planting, you must definitely choose live oak seeds, which consist of yellow cotyledons with a yellow or reddish embryo inside.

How to plant an oak?

An option for planting an oak tree is also to collect sprouting acorns in a park or forest in early spring, immediately after the snow melts. Such seeds with sprouts can be immediately planted in the ground, taking care that the fragile and not yet strong sprouts do not dry out or break off. Oak seedlings must be protected from weeds and do not forget to water during drought.

The healing properties of oak

The use of oak is quite wide. Oak fruits, oak bark and branches are often used in medicinal purposes. In addition, oak wood, which has a luxurious texture, is highly valued.

Oak bark - medicinal properties

Oak bark, which is used in medicine, is very useful. Oak bark is used to relieve inflammation and is an effective wound healing and astringent. A decoction of oak bark treats stomach diseases, allergies, diseases of the skin, throat, mucous membranes, and is good for gums. Oak acorns also have beneficial features, they help with diarrhea, stomach bleeding, hernia treatment, burns, skin problems.

Oak bark is collected in the spring for medicinal purposes. The raw materials from young branches and trunks are most valued. After collection, the bark must be dried, but not for long - 2-4 days. For long-term storage, this process must be increased until the bark becomes brittle.

There are several interesting facts about oak: At the Paris exhibition in 1900, an oak ridge was demonstrated, cut from a 485-year-old oak tree with a height of 31 m and a diameter of 169 cm. This oak was cut down in the Bolshesursky forest dacha of the Kurmysh forestry of the Simbirsk province, that is, on the territory of the modern Sumerlinsky forestry enterprise of the Chuvash Republic.

And in 1861, in the Yadrinsky district of the Kazan province, an oak tree “50 feet long” (that is, 15 m in height) and “48 inches in the top cut” (diameter 213 cm) was cut down. This tree was estimated to be 500 years old; at that time it was completely fresh, healthy and still growing in volume...

The oak was a sacred tree of many peoples, including the ancient Slavs and Celts, and was worshiped as a deity. Even today it remains a symbol of courage and perseverance, and not just, so to speak, “impenetrability”... By the way, seeing an oak tree strewn with acorns in a dream means well-being and career growth.

English oak (summer, English, common) (Quercus robur). © Leafland

Botanical description

Oak (Quercus) is a genus of deciduous or evergreen trees of the beech family. The leaves are alternate, simple, pinnately divided, lobed, toothed, sometimes entire. Oak flowers are small, inconspicuous, unisexual, monoecious; staminate - in long hanging catkins, pistillate - single or several, sessile or on a peduncle. The fruit is a single-seeded acorn, partially enclosed in a cup-shaped woody plus.

Oak grows slowly, at first (up to 80 years) - stronger in height, later - in thickness. Typically forms a deep tap root system. Produces abundant growth from the stump. Photophilous. Some types of oak are drought-resistant, quite winter-hardy and have little demands on soils. It begins to bear fruit at the age of 15-60, in open areas earlier than in plantations. It reproduces mainly by acorns. For sowing, acorns collected in the same year are used, because they quickly lose their viability. There are about 450 species of oak in the temperate, subtropical and tropical zones of the Northern Hemisphere. In Russia - 20 (according to other sources, 11) wild species in the European part, the Far East and the Caucasus; 43 species of oak trees are grown in cultivation.

The greatest importance in forestry is English oak, or summer ( Quercus robur), - a tree up to 40-50 m high and 1-1.5 m in diameter. The leaves are elongated, obovate, with 5-7 pairs of short lobes, on petioles up to 1 cm long. There are 1-3 acorns on the stalk. It blooms simultaneously with the leaves blooming from 40-60 years. Fruits abundantly every 4-8 years. With side shading it grows quite quickly, but requires good lighting from above. Lives up to 400-1000 years. Distributed in the European part of Russia, the Caucasus and almost throughout Western Europe. In the northern part of the range it grows along river valleys, to the south it reaches watersheds and forms mixed forests with spruce, and in the south of the range there are pure oak forests; V steppe zone found in ravines and gullies. One of the main forest-forming species of broad-leaved forests in Russia.

Close to English oak Sessile oak, or winter ( Q. petraea), with almost sessile (2-3) acorns, found in the west of the European part of Russia, in the Crimea and the North Caucasus. Grows in the eastern part of the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia Georgian oak (Q. iberica) with leathery leaves and sessile (1-2) acorns; in the high mountain zone of these regions it grows Large anther oak (Quercus macranthera) with densely pubescent shoots and acorns sessile or on a short stalk. The main species of valley forests in Eastern Transcaucasia is Long-legged oak (Q. longipes). An important forest-forming species of the Far East - Mongolian oak (Q. mongolica) - frost-resistant and drought-resistant tree.

Oak wood has high strength, hardness, durability and beautiful texture (pattern on the section). It is used in shipbuilding and underwater structures, because does not rot; used in carriage building, furniture, carpentry, cooperage, house construction, etc. Bark of some types ( Cork oak- Q. suber) gives a cork. The bark and wood contain tannins (tannids) used to tan leather. The dried bark of young branches and thin trunks of the English oak is used as an astringent in the form of an aqueous decoction for rinsing in inflammatory processes in the mouth, pharynx, pharynx, as well as for lotions in the treatment of burns. Acorns are used as a substitute for coffee and feed for pigs and some other agricultural products. animals. Many types, for example Chestnut oak(Q. castaneifolia), grown in gardens and parks as ornamental plants.

Growing oak

Oak acorns, unlike the seeds of the vast majority of our other trees, do not retain their viability when dried and stored for long periods of time. room temperature. Therefore, it is necessary either to sow them in the fall before snow falls and the soil freezes, or to provide them special conditions storage Autumn sowing is the simplest, but there is a serious risk of damage to some of the acorns by rodents.

For spring sowing Oak acorns must be properly preserved. Better conditions storage is created at low (about 0° or slightly higher) temperature, high humidity and moderate ventilation. Acorns can be stored in the basement, in which potatoes are well preserved in winter; You can also bury them in the fall into the soil to a depth of at least 20 cm, covering the top with a sheet of waterproof material, leaving a layer of air between this sheet and the acorns and providing protection from mice. In any case, lay it on winter storage You need healthy acorns without external damage, preferably collected in dry weather and dried at room temperature for a week. Any special preparation of seeds that have survived the winter before sowing is not required.

Before sowing, evaluate the quality of the acorns by opening several of them. Living oak acorns have yellow cotyledons, and at the point where they connect to each other there is a living (yellow or red-yellow) embryo. Dead acorns are black or gray inside. It is not always possible to distinguish living acorns from dead ones by external signs. Soaking acorns in a container of water gives good results - dead acorns mostly float, live acorns mostly sink (if there are a lot of acorns, then this method of separating the dead from the living can be recommended, but a small part of the living acorns will be lost).

If you were unable to stock up on acorns in the fall, then in some years (after big harvest acorns and if there is a “failure” of mice, and if the winter was not very frosty) you can collect live and sprouting acorns in the nearest forest or park. It is necessary to collect germinating acorns early in the spring, almost immediately after the snow melts, otherwise you will find damaged roots in many acorns. Collected oak acorns must either be sown immediately or stored until sowing in such a way that the roots do not dry out (for example, mixed with wet leaves in a plastic box placed in a refrigerator or cold basement). Even during short-term storage, care must be taken to ensure that germinating acorns do not become moldy (damaged ones should be thrown away immediately), and ventilation should be ensured. The faster you can sow the acorns collected in the spring, the more of them will be able to develop into seedlings.

Oak acorns. © Twid Sprouted oak acorn. © Beentree

Sowing acorns

When sowing acorns, mark parallel furrows on the bed at a distance of 15–25 cm from each other. Place acorns in the furrows at the rate of 15–50 pieces. per 1 m of furrow length, depending on the quality and size (if the acorns are large and almost all are alive, then they should be laid out less often, if they are small and with a large proportion of dead and doubtful ones, they should be placed more densely). If you plan to plant annual oak seedlings in a permanent place, then acorns should be sown even less often - at a distance of 7-10 cm from each other (this will ensure maximum growth of each tree). Press the acorns into the bottom of the furrow so that they are at a depth of 2–3 cm relative to the soil surface when planting in spring and 3–6 cm when planting in autumn. After this, level the furrow by covering the acorns with soil.

Acorns take a very long time to germinate. First, they develop a powerful root, reaching a length of several tens of centimeters, and only after that the stem begins to grow. Therefore, oak sprouts can appear on the soil surface only a month and a half after the start of germination. Do not rush to conclude that your oak trees are dead and dig up the bed with crops (as the experience of novice amateur foresters shows, this happens). If in doubt, try digging up a few acorns. If their roots have grown, then the acorns are alive.

Caring for oak seedlings

Oak seedlings suffer significantly less from weeds and soil drying out than seedlings coniferous trees(thanks to stock nutrients large roots and leaves immediately develop in the acorn). However, try to always keep the crops free of weeds and provide water during severe drought, especially if you want to produce large seedlings in one year. Stop all additional watering about a month and a half before the time when massive leaf fall begins in your area - this will allow oak seedlings to better prepare for wintering (oak growth that is too late often freezes in winter).

In summer, oak seedlings are often affected by powdery mildew, a fungal disease. Powdery mildew is not capable of killing oak seedlings, but can significantly reduce their growth. With strong development of powdery mildew (if white coating will cover more than half the area of ​​all leaves) seedlings can be treated with a 1% solution copper sulfate or 1% sulfur suspension. Oak seedlings can be grown for two years in one place without transplanting, or they can be transplanted into a “school” in the second year. The second method is preferable, since it allows the formation of a more compact and branched root system, which suffers less when transplanted to a permanent place (in two-year-old seedlings grown without replanting, the length of the main root can be more than a meter, and it is almost impossible to replant them without damaging the root).

Transplanting oak seedlings into a “school” should be done in the spring, preferably as early as possible, so that the root system damaged during replanting has time to partially recover before the leaves bloom (it is also important that the soil is still moist during replanting). When replanting, cut the main root of each oak seedling at a distance of 15-20 cm from the place where the acorn was located (in most seedlings, the remains of the acorn are still visible in the second year). This will allow the formation of a more compact root system. You can not cut off the main root, but in this case it will be very difficult to dig up two-year-old seedlings without seriously damaging their root system.

Oak seedlings. © Elektryczne jabłko

In the “school”, place rows of seedlings at a distance of 25–30 cm from each other, and seedlings in a row – at intervals of 12–15 cm. When planting under each oak seedling, make a hole 20–25 cm deep with a stake or the handle of a shovel (the depth of the hole should be such that when planting the seedling, the place of attachment of the acorn is 2–3 cm below the soil surface). Insert the seedlings into the holes (the main root of oak seedlings, unlike the roots of conifers, is hard and straight and is inserted into the holes without problems). Then fill the holes with soil and compact it with your hands so that the soil fits more tightly to the roots of the seedlings.

In the first weeks after transplantation, transplanted oak seedlings suffer greatly from root damage - the leaves bloom quite slowly, and the growth of shoots is relatively small. Nevertheless, by mid-summer the normal development of seedlings is restored, and by autumn, as a rule, large seedlings (30–50 cm high) are obtained that are quite suitable for planting in a permanent place. If the size of the seedlings by autumn leaves much to be desired, then only the largest ones can be selected for transplantation, and the rest left in the “school” for another year.

If you are transplanting annual oak seedlings to a permanent place (this is quite possible if planting is done in areas with low grass cover or on plowed soil), then do not cut the main roots of the seedlings - try to preserve as much as possible most their lengths. The root system of an annual oak seedling is represented mainly by a long and straight taproot with weak and short lateral roots, so for replanting it is enough to make a narrow hole of appropriate depth using a stake or a shovel handle.

Types of oak

English oak (summer, English, or common) - Quercus robur

It is found naturally in the European part of Russia, Central and Western Europe. A very powerful tree up to 50 m tall, in closed plantings with a slender trunk, highly cleared of branches, in single plantings in open areas - with a short trunk and a wide, spreading, low-set crown. Lives 500-900 years.

English oak (Quercus robur). © 2micha

The bark on trunks up to 40 years is smooth, olive-brown, later grayish-brown, almost black. The leaves are alternate, close together in bunches at the top of the shoots, leathery, oblong, obovate, up to 15 cm long, with an elongated apex and 3-7 pairs of blunt, lateral lobes of unequal length. The blades are entire or with 1-3 teeth, often with ears at the base of the leaf blade. The leaves are shiny, bare, dark green above, lighter below, sometimes with sparse hairs. In spring, the oak blooms late, one of the last among our trees. The oak tree blooms in April-May, when it still has very small leaves. The flowers are unisexual, monoecious, very small and inconspicuous. Male or staminate flowers are collected in peculiar inflorescences - long and thin, yellowish-greenish hanging earrings, reminiscent of hazel earrings. Acorns up to 3.5 cm, 1/5 covered with plus, ripen in early autumn.

Grows slowly, maximum growth energy in 5-20 years. It is moderately light-loving and, thanks to its powerful root system, is wind-resistant. It does not tolerate excessive soil moisture, but can withstand temporary flooding for up to 20 days. It prefers deep, fertile, fresh soils, but is able to grow in any soil, including dry and saline soils, which makes it indispensable in green construction in many regions of Russia. It has high drought and heat resistance. One of the most durable breeds, some sources indicate a life expectancy of up to 1500 years.

Has powerful energy. Oak in Rus' was considered a sacred tree. In springs located in oak forests, the water has an excellent taste and is particularly clean.

Propagated by sowing acorns, decorative forms by grafting and green cuttings. Renews well with growth from the stump. Acorns do not tolerate drying out; as soon as they lose even a small part of the water, they die. They rot easily in warm conditions and are very sensitive to cold and frost. This circumstance presents a certain difficulty in preserving acorns for seeds. In nature, there is no such problem: acorns that fall in the forest in late autumn overwinter in a damp litter of leaves under a thick layer of snow, which protects them from both drying out and frost. The germination of an acorn resembles the germination of a pea: its cotyledons do not rise above the soil surface, like many plants, but remain in the ground. A thin green stalk rises up. At first it is leafless, and only after some time small leaves appear on its top.

In nature, it is found along the banks of rivers, where there is no stagnation of water in the soil, north of the 35th parallel of the North American continent, up to Canada. Tree up to 25 m in height.

A slender tree with a dense tent-shaped crown.

Red oak (Quercus rubra). © Jean-Pol GRANDMONT

The trunk is covered with thin, smooth, gray bark, cracking in old trees. Young shoots are reddish-felt, annual shoots are reddish-brown, smooth. The leaves are deeply notched, thin, shiny, up to 15-25 cm, with 4-5 pointed lobes on each side of the leaf, reddish when blooming, dark green in summer, lighter below, scarlet-red in autumn, before falling, in young trees , the old ones are brownish-brown. It blooms simultaneously with the leaves blooming. Acorns spherical, up to 2 cm, red-brown, as if chopped off below, unlike pedunculate oak, they ripen in the fall of the second year. Fruits steadily and abundantly from 15-20 years. When young it grows faster than European oaks.

Frost-resistant. Moderately light-loving, easily tolerates lateral shading, but prefers full illumination of the crown top. Not drought-resistant. It is wind-resistant, not very demanding on soil fertility, can withstand even acidic reactions, however, does not tolerate calcareous and wet soils. Resistant to pests and diseases, including powdery mildew- scourge our oaks. Has high phytoncidal properties. Due to its high decorative value, resistance to adverse environmental factors, and magnificent autumn decoration, it deserves the widest use in green construction, for creating single and group plantings, alleys, arrays, lining roads and streets.

In nature, it is found in the southern Crimea, the northern part of Transcaucasia, southern Europe and Asia Minor. Tree up to 10 m tall. Durable.

Downy oak (Quercus pubescens). © Petr Filippov

Significantly smaller in size previous types, with a low, twisting trunk and a wide crown, sometimes even a shrub. Young shoots are heavily pubescent. Leaves are 5-10 cm long, very variable in shape and size, with 4-8 pairs of blunt or pointed lobes, dark green above, glabrous, below gray-green, pubescent. The scales of the plusa surrounding the acorn are also fluffy.

It grows slowly, is light- and heat-loving, lives on dry rocky slopes and soils containing lime. Tolerates haircuts well. A valuable species for green building in arid areas, it grows on rocky soils where other species do not develop. An excellent material for tall hedges and curly, trimmed forms.

Homeland - East North America. Grows in forests along with other species of oak and hazel, on various soils, but better on deep, rich, well-drained, limestone soils; in the north of the range it extends no higher than 200 m above sea level. sea, in the south up to 1500 m above sea level. seas.

White oak (Quercus alba). ©Msact

A large beautiful tree up to 30 m, with powerful spreading branches forming a wide, tent-shaped crown. The shoots are bare, the trunk bark is gray, shallowly cracking. Remarkable for its very large, oblong-oval leaves, up to 22 cm, with 5-9 blunt lobes; when blooming - bright red, in summer - bright green, with a whitish-gray underside. In autumn, the leaves turn dark red or violet-purple. Acorns up to 2.5 cm, covered by a quarter of the plus. Seeds are stored for spring sowing in semi-moist sand. In autumn, they are sown immediately after harvesting and air drying. Seed germination remains until the spring of next year. Soil germination 80 - 85%. Embedment depth c. 5 - 6 cm.

Homeland North America.

A slender tree up to 25 m tall, in youth with a narrow pyramidal crown, later with a broad pyramidal crown. Young shoots are thin, hanging, reddish-brown. The bark of the trunk is greenish-brown and remains smooth for a long time. Leaves are up to 12 cm long, with 5-7 deeply cut serrated lobes, almost to the middle of the leaf, bright green above, lighter below, with tufts of hairs in the corners of the veins. In autumn - bright purple. Acorns are sessile, almost spherical, up to 1.5 cm, covered by 1/3 plus. Seeds are stored for spring sowing in semi-moist sand. In autumn s. sown after harvesting and air drying. Seed germination remains until the spring of next year. Soil germination s. 80 - 90%. Embedment depth c. 5 - 6 cm.

Swamp oak (Quercus palustris). © Willow

It grows quickly and is less frost-resistant than red oak and northern oak. It is more demanding of soil and its moisture, as it naturally grows in deep, moist soils of river banks and swamps. Tolerates city conditions well. Looks great in single, group and alley plantings, along the banks of reservoirs. In culture since the middle of the 18th century. Grows in parks of Ukraine (Chernivtsi), Belarus, Voronezh region. It's freezing in St. Petersburg.

Grows wild in eastern North America.

A beautiful deciduous tree up to 20 m tall, with a slender trunk and a wide-round (pyramidal in youth) crown. Remarkable for its original shiny green leaves, reminiscent of willow leaves (up to 12 cm in length and 2 cm in width). This similarity is even stronger in young leaves, which are heavily pubescent underneath. In autumn, the leaves turn a dull yellow color.

Willow oak (Quercus phellos). © Daderot

It is characterized by rapid growth, light-loving, unpretentious to the soil, tolerates temperatures down to -23 ºС. Used in singles and group plantings. In culture since 1680.

Homeland Mediterranean, Southern Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor.

An evergreen tree up to 25 m tall, with a smooth dark gray trunk and a dense, wide-spreading crown. The shoots are grayish-tomentose, the leaves are small, up to 8 cm, highly variable in shape, leathery, shiny, dark green, yellowish or whitish-pubescent below. Acorns ripen in the second year.

It is recommended to store freshly harvested acorns in trenches. The permissible period of dry storage is until next spring. Acorns are stratified in moderately moist sand for 2 - 3 months at 2 - 5 ° C, then sown in greenhouses or ridges, where they germinate for 20 - 30 days at 0 - 15 ° C. Embedment depth c. 4 - 7 cm.

Holm oak (Quercus ilex). © propio

It grows quickly, is quite shade-tolerant, frost-resistant, and can withstand temperatures down to -20°C without damage. Drought resistant. Grows on dry rocky slopes and all types of soil. It tolerates haircuts well and is durable. A valuable, beautiful breed for park construction in the south of Russia. It is good in group, alley and street plantings, in regular gardens - for creating dense high hedges and high walls, for which its small-leaved forms are suitable. In culture since 1819.

Grows wildly in Armenia, the Caucasus and Northern Iran. Listed in the Red Book of the USSR. Protected in the Girkansky Nature Reserve. Forms pure forests or with an admixture of other deciduous species on the ridge crests. Photophilous mesoxerophyte.

Tall, up to 30 m, a beautiful tree with a slender trunk, the bark of which remains smooth for a long time, with a wide tent-shaped crown and large leaves, reminiscent of chestnut leaves, up to 18 cm long, with large, sharp, triangular teeth. The leaves are matte, dark green, almost bare on top; below are finely pubescent, grayish-white. Acorns up to 3 cm, 1/3 covered with plus.

Chestnut oak (Quercus castaneifolia). © Mmparedes

It grows relatively quickly, is moderately frost-resistant, and not drought-resistant enough. Good for alleys, group and single plantings of parks and forest parks. Suitable for cultivation in the southwestern and southern parts of Russia, on the Black Sea coast. In culture since 1830.

A North American species that grows as a tree up to 30 m high, with a thick trunk and a spreading, tent-shaped crown. The bark on the trunk is light brown, cracking. The leaves are obovate, oblong, up to 25 cm long, deeply lobed; shiny, dark green above, whitish-green, pubescent below, acquiring a spectacular yellow-brown color in autumn. Acorns are oval, large, up to 5 cm, 1/3 covered with plus.

Seeds are stored for spring sowing in semi-moist sand in basement. In autumn, the seeds are sown after collection and air drying. Seed germination remains until the spring of next year. Soil germination 80 - 85%. The seeding depth is 5 - 6 cm.

Large-fruited oak (Quercus macrocarpa). © Daderot

Its growth rate is almost equal to that of pedunculate oak; in terms of frost resistance it is close to it and to red oak, but is more moisture-loving than these species. Decorative, used in green building, like other types. In culture since 1826.

Diseases and pests of oak

Gallica

By autumn, oak leaves often develop yellowish or yellow-pink balls - galls - the size of a small cherry. They look like tiny apples with a regular spherical shape.

Galls are painful growths of leaf tissue. The gall midge insect, which looks like a very small fly, is to blame for their appearance. The gall midge pierces the skin of the leaf with a thin, sharp ovipositor and lays an egg there. Some time after this, a “ball” grows on the leaf. If you break such a ball in late autumn, you can find a small one in the middle of it. white worm- a gall midge larva or an adult insect. In some years, oak leaves are literally covered with galls - there are several of them on each leaf.

Gall on an oak leaf. © Fritz Geller-Grimm Gall on an oak tree. © Rasbak Gall on an oak tree. ©Saharadesertfox

Galls are sometimes called ink nuts. This name is not accidental. Our ancestors in the time of Pushkin used them to prepare black ink. How do you get ink this way? You need to prepare a decoction of nuts and add a solution to it iron sulfate. By merging two weakly colored liquids, we obtain a completely black liquid. This chemical “trick” is explained simply. Gall contains a lot of tannins, and they have the ability, when combined with iron salts, to give a thick black color. The same can be done with tea infusion (it also contains a lot of tannins). If you add a few drops of a yellowish solution of ferric chloride to a glass of weak tea, the liquid becomes completely black.

Oak pests

Leaf-gnawing and stem pests, and fungal diseases are the most important factor increasing the drying out of oak stands. Violation of the ecological balance of oak forest phytocenoses, especially in oak forest monocultures, leads to disturbances water regime territories, changes in light and temperature conditions in the planting, and all together - to the formation of conditions more favorable for the development of pests and diseases.

Oak is damaged by a huge number of pests and diseases. Different authors give different figures on the number of pests and diseases that damage oak. In Tellerman forest area 184 species of foliage pests have been identified (Molchanov, 1975). Among the most common pests that damage foliage are: 5 species of silkworms, 5 species of cutworms, 6 species of moths, 8 species of moths, 8 species of sawflies, 2 species of leaf rollers, 11 species of gall moths, 2 species of psyllids, 5 species of weevils, 2 species hermes, 2 types of aphids and 3 types of plant mites. Buds and flowers are damaged by 12 species of gallworms. Acorns are damaged by 2 species of codling moths, 3 species of weevils and 1 species of gall moth. The trunk and branches are damaged by 8 species of bark beetles, 7 species of longhorned beetles, 3 species of horntails, 2 species of woodworms, 1 species of flat-footed beetles, 3 species of borers, 1 species of the borer family, 1 species of wood borers (Napalkov, 1953).

Sawfly caterpillars on oak leaves. © Beentree

542 species have been identified in Europe harmful insects, damaging oak (Hrast Luznjak..., 1996). A total of 206 species of fungi were discovered, including zygomycetes - 3 species, mastigomycetes - 2 species, ascomycetes - 50 species, basidiomycetes - 43 species, deuteromycetes - 108 species. 1 virus was detected - tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), 14 species of bacteria (Erwinia quercicola Geprges et Bad., Erwinia valachika Geprges et Bad., Pseudomonas quercus Schem, etc.). However, the influence of viruses and bacteria as causes of oak decline has not been clearly established (Ragazzi et al., 1995).

The healing power of oak

For treatment, young bark of branches and trunks, leaves and acorns of oak are used. The bark contains acids, resins, pectin, and sugar. Acorns contain protein and tannins, starch, fatty oil, sugar. The leaves contain tannins and dyes, pentosans.

Oak bark used as an astringent, anti-inflammatory and wound healing agent. In a mixture with other plants, it is used to treat gastritis, colitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and spleen diseases. A cold infusion is given internally (1 teaspoon of crushed bark is infused in 2 glasses cold water 6-8 hours) 2-3 tablespoons 3-4 times a day.

A decoction of oak bark (1:10) is used for pharyngitis, sore throat, skin diseases, and stomatitis. To treat burns, a stronger decoction of the bark (1:5) is used. For skin diseases, an ointment is also used - one part of a thickened bark decoction to four parts of lanolin.

A warm infusion of crushed oak acorns in red wine (25% tincture) in the form of compresses is used to treat hernias, and water decoctions are recommended by folk healers for burns, skin rashes, and excessive sweating of the feet. In addition, a nutritious coffee drink is prepared from acorns, which is consumed with milk and sugar.

For stomach bleeding, intestinal inflammation, poisoning with heavy metals, alkaloids, mushrooms, henbane, dope, and food poisoning, use a decoction of oak bark. For this purpose, 20 g of dry crushed raw materials are poured into 1 glass hot water, boil for half an hour, then filter and bring the volume of liquid to the original volume with boiled water. Take 2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day.

An infusion of oak acorns helps with diarrhea and enterocolitis. It is prepared as follows: 1 teaspoon of dry crushed raw materials is poured with 1 glass of boiling water and, after cooling, filtered. Take 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day.

To gargle for chronic tonsillitis, pharyngitis, gum disease and stomatitis, use a decoction of oak bark. For urethritis and cystitis, take a decoction of oak bark, 2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day. For the same purpose, an infusion of acorns is used in a similar dosage.

For douching for cervical erosion, uterine prolapse, prolapse of the vaginal walls, vulvovaginitis and trichomonas colpitis, a decoction of oak bark is used: 20 g of dry crushed raw material is poured into 1 glass of hot water, boiled for half an hour, then filtered and the volume of liquid is brought to 1 liter with boiled water .

For baths and washes in case of allergic diathesis, a decoction of oak bark is used. For this purpose, 100 g of dry crushed raw materials are boiled in 1 liter of water for half an hour and filtered. For sweating feet, foot baths are prepared using a decoction of oak bark: 20 g of dry crushed raw materials are poured into 1 glass of hot water, boiled for half an hour, then filtered and the volume of liquid is brought to 1 liter with boiled water.

A cold decoction of the bark is used to treat burns and frostbite, as well as long-term non-healing wounds.