Tim FAQ, Live Oak Grove, Local live oaks, Preservation, Resources

Some facts you’ll love to know about live oaks.

The live oak is Virginia Beach’s official tree.

Sturdy live oaks are highly resistant to hurricane winds and are among the least likely trees to lose branches or blow over in a storm.

Live oaks grow naturally in coastal maritime forests in both dry and wet soil.

Live oaks got their name because they stay “alive” all year long, unlike other oak species that lose their leaves in the fall.

Live oaks also are long lived. One of the oldest, the Angel Oak in Charleston, S. C., is said to be around 1,000 years old. Several in our area date to the Revolutionary War.

The U.S. Navy once grew acres of live oak trees to supply the strong wood to build its ships.

The U.S.S. Constitution was nicknamed “Old Ironsides.” because its sturdy hull was built of live oak wood.

Very few insects dine on tough leathery live oak leaves.

One that does caterpillar of the beautiful Polyphemus moth.

A mature live oak drinks about 50 gallons of water per day but can take up many more gallons in times of flooding.

Hampton Roads is about as far north as live oaks grow.

Live oak acorns are small and bullet-shaped, easy for birds to dine on, but the acorns also are a good food source for mammals.

Baby live oaks that grow from the roots of mature live oaks cannot be transplanted successfully.

Search away from mature trees for live oak saplings that may have grown from acorns, perhaps planted by squirrels.

Tim FAQ, Resources

How to germinate live oak acorns

Harvest live oak acorns in the fall!

1) Gather off the ground.
Can pick off trees if turning brown and they easily pop out.

2) Float test.
Put acorns in a bucket or bowl of water.
Sink good. Float bad.

3) Heat treat to kill weevil larva.
Put acorns in a warm bath of water 115F-118F degrees not to exceed 120F or you kill the plant.
Weevils will float out and die after about 10-15 mins.

4) Plant acorns in ground or pots. No deeper than 2 times the thickness of the acorn. In pots you can protect from critters tryin to eat them might be best choice.

5) Protect from squirrels.

6) Nurture them & watch them grow!