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10 Ways You Can Help Oaks
Kincaid's Lupines growing in oak savanna with serpentine soil. Credit: Eric Stauder
1. Enjoy and Appreciate Oak Habitats
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Visit local parks, natural areas, and refuges with oak woodlands and prairies.
The more we connect with these landscapes, the more we can support their protection, driving action and funding to conserve them for future generations.
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Explore oakalliance.org
Find resources and to learn more about local oak and prairie partnerships here, at oakalliance.org
2. Plant and Care for Acorns and Young Oaks
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Plant Native Oaks
Planting acorns, oak seedlings, and native trees are good for local wildlife and are more resilient to local environmental conditions. Learn all about planting acorns and seedlings here
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Protect Oak Seedlings
Use tree tubes, wire caging, or milk cartons to protect seedlings and young trees from rodents, deer, and mowers.
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Water Young Trees
Young oaks need supplemental watering during their first few years. Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deep rooting. Mature trees generally don’t require watering.
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Provide Space
Oaks have extensive root systems, so ensure they have ample space to grow without root damage from vehicles, new buildings, and soil disturbance.
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Mulch Properly
Use mulch around the base of the tree but avoid piling it against the trunk (aim for a “donut” instead of "volcano mulching").
3. Protect Legacy Oaks
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Don’t Water Mature Trees
Watering mature oak trees in the summer can cause root rot and interfere with acorn production. Limit watering.
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Avoid Root Damage
Minimize grading, digging, trenching, and covering the ground with asphalt or concrete. Don’t park heavy vehicles or stack heavy materials over the root zone.
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Remove Encroaching Trees
Douglas-fir, and other trees, will overtop and shade out oak trees, eventually leading to their death. Remove competing trees within 1.5x the dripline (outermost edge of a tree’s foliage) of mature oak trees to keep the canopy open and exposed to plenty of sunlight.
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Limit Construction Impact
Advocate for tree and root protection during construction projects in your community and speak up for limiting heavy machinery use in the root zone.
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Be Mindful of Pesticides, Herbicides, and Other Chemicals
If improperly applied or overused, even common household chemicals can be harmful to young oaks, native plants, the soil microbial community, beneficial insects, and other wildlife, and waterways. Always follow the label to ensure proper application rate, timing, weather conditions, and species application.
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Share Your Acorns
Acorns are the seeds of oak trees. Gather and share acorns with your community to spread the word.
4. Adopt oak-friendly management practices on agricultural, forestry, and recreational land
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Maintain Native Oak Understories
Regularly mow, burn, masticate, or seasonally graze to keep brush back and rejuvenate native wildflowers and grasses.
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Leave a Tillage Buffer and Plan Irrigation
Leave an untilled area at least 1-2 times the width of the tree to avoid damage to oak roots. Excess water, especially in the summer, can be fatal to native oaks, so plan your irrigation. Visit tualatinswcd.org to learn more about farming around oak.
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Prevent the Spread of Pests and Diseases
Avoid moving firewood between locations to prevent the spread of invasive pests and tree diseases that threaten oak habitats and be on the lookout for signs of tree disease.
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Create a Prescribed Grazing Plan
Work with your local Soil and Water Conservation District to find resources on prescribed grazing plans specific to your property.
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Learn about Oak-Friendly Land Management
The Southern Oregon Northern California Guide for Private Landowners is a great resource.
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Get Help With a Forest Management Plan
Visit OSU’s Extension Resources to learn more about oak woodland and forest management planning or contact your local Soil and Water Conservation district.
5. Plant Native Shrubs and Flowers and Support Oak Habitat Restoration
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You will attract native birds, bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects and wildlife. Native shrubs require little watering and are low annual maintenance. Visit your local Soil and Water Conservation District’s native plant sale. Learn more
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Volunteer for Restoration Projects:
Contact your local land trust, Conservation District, or local oak partnership for opportunities.
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Remove Invasive Species
Help remove invasive plants that can outcompete young oak seedlings and potentially alter wildfire behavior.
6. Reduce Wildfire Risk in Your Community
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Practice Firewise Habitat Management
Maintain open understories in oak woodlands by reducing ladder fuels and dense brush that can increase fire intensity.
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Support Prescribed Fire as a Management Tool
When appropriate, support controlled burns to reduce invasive species, promote native plant regeneration, and maintain healthy oak ecosystems.
7. Learn, Educate, and Advocate
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Tell Your Story
Let your family, friends, and neighbors know what you learn, do, and see about oaks and oak habitats.
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Spread Awareness
Share information about the ecological, cultural, and economic importance of oak trees with friends, family, and on social media.
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Inform yourself
Visit the Pacific Northwest Oak Alliance resource library to learn more.
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Support Policies Protecting Oaks and Oak-Friendly Agriculture and Forestry
Advocate for local legislation to protect mature oak trees and oak woodlands, support local sustainable forest and agricultural programs, and advance prescribed fire programs and resources.
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Attend Workshops to Learn More About the Natural Environment
Local organizations host a plethora of workshops about the natural environment. Your local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, watershed councils, and WSU and OSU Extension Service are great resources for learning more.
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Visit Museums and Tribal Centers
Learn about the cultural significance of oaks by visiting places like the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Chacahlu Museum and Cultural Center, Ankeny Hill Nature Center, The Five Oaks Museum, Seattle University's taqwsheblu Vi Hilbert Ethnobotanical Garden, Victoria’s Fort Rodd Hill’s Garry Oak Learning Meadow and University of British Columbia’s Garry Oak Meadow at the Botanical Gardens
8. Support Wildlife that Depends on Oaks
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Leave Branches and Deadwood
Protect important micro-habitats by allowing fallen branches or deadwood to remain on the ground (if safe), as they provide important habitats for insects, birds, and fungi.
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Retain Natural Tree Cavities or Install Nesting Boxes
Leave snags (dead trees) standing and retain live trees with cavities (when safe) to support cavity-nesting birds that rely on oak habitats.
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Keep your dog on a leash
In natural areas, ground-nesting birds are especially vulnerable in the spring. Keep your dog on a leash to avoid disturbance to wildlife.
9. Participate in Community Science
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Report Oak Tree Health Issues
Participate in citizen science projects to monitor diseases like Mediterranean Oak Borer and Sudden Oak Death.
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Contribute to Online Data Projects
Join and contribute to an iNaturalist or eBird oak project.
10. Donate to Conservation Organizations
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Support
Support groups dedicated to oak protection and restoration through donations or volunteering.