Winter Oaks

Last spring when I was tidying up the plot I found a couple of acorns which must have been buried by a squirrel during the winter months and which were well and truly sprouted and fighting for life. One of my big problems as a gardener is that I can't stand to let any plants die if I can possibly help it so I decided that the best course of action was to pot them up and see how they got on. As seems typical with an unplanned or not strictly wanted plant they flourished, grew tiny oak leaves in summer, shed them in autumn and did great over the winter to such an extent that they're now nearly out growing their little pots.

The problem I now face is to find a home for my 6 tiny oak trees! Clearly I can't plant them on my allotment or in my garden because there simply isn't enough room - it's a big deal growing a tree the size of an oak and I think there's nothing worse than seeing a tree squashed in where there isn't really space. Another option is to plant them in the woodland park next to the allotments and see how they get on but I'm quite attached to them now and don't know what chances they'd have of survival in the big, wide world. Maybe the best possibility is to put them on Freecycle (if I can't get rid of them there I never will) and pass on the responsibility and guilt to another unsuspecting gardener.

Comments

[P~]

It's been a while since this was posted, but I thought I'd add the suggestion that you could begin transforming these into a Bonsai oak forest scene. Then you could keep all of them, and enjoy their natural evolution all year.
P~

[Stuart & Gabrielle]

It'll be a few years before they're too big for your allotment. Why not plant them up where they won't cast shade on your neighbours' plots and have the pleasure of watching them grow? When they become too big you can sell or give away oak saplings.

[Sharon J]

I saw an ad on my local freecycle group (Crewe & Nantwich) by somebody needing good homes for little oak trees a while back. That wasn't by any chance you?

[Paul]

Awwww, you've got to keep at least one surely... ;)
If you plant it in the woodland near your plot you could keep an eye on it and check its keeping ok...

[Yew]

Hi

I was at the National Memorial Arbouretum in Alrewas, Staffs a few weeks ago and a little girl and her Grandad brought along about 40 tiny oak trees. The staff there seemed really happy to take them off their hands so I'm sure they could accommodate your 6. Seems like a good home for an oak to me!

[John Curtin]

I like the idea of planting them in the park - a wee bit of guerilla gardening perhaps, though choose a spot where they are not likely to weed.

[sinta]

I know exactly what you're feeling. I underestimated the strong growth and vigour of pumpkin plants and planted too many seeds. At the end I had around eight plants that I just couldn't kill, even if there was no more space in my old allotment. At the end, I did just give it to free cycle and found homes for them.

If you're anywhere near Leeds, I actually don't mind adopting one of your 6 tiny oaks. :) But definitely try freecycle.