Friday, Nov. 14, 2008

Find an Acorn and Regrow the Tree Canopy

November Post Oak Project Perfect to Replace Lost Trees

By Adrian McCandless

Staff Writer

Flower Mound residents are known for their active tree preservation stance, and although numerous steps are in place to ensure their preservation –– native Post Oaks need the public’s help.

Environmental Conservation Commissioner Alton Bowman is leading efforts to increase the community’s dwindling tree canopy. He said Flower Mound had a tree canopy of 40 percent two decades ago.

"Today the tree town canopy is around 28 percent and shrinking due to losses from developments, roads, construction and conversion," Bowman said. "The town has a tree planting program and developers are required to plant according to a preferred list of desirable species; but the problem is, no nurseries sell post oaks. When all the old oaks pass away, where will the new ones come from?"

Bowman added that Flower Mound continues to lose native post oaks with few being replaced.

He said there is a solution to the problem.

"Post oaks are white oaks –– they sprout from acorns that drop in the fall of the same year," he said. "Now is the time that post oaks are dropping their acorns."

The steps are simple: find a post oak, gather a few acorns and put them in a pail of water –– discarding the ones that float.

"Put the good ones in a plastic zip lock bag with some damp sawdust or moss, and put them in the refrigerator until December," Bowman said. "Keep checking them, and when they begin to sprout they can be planted in a foam cup filled with potting soil."

Bowman added that the cup needs a few holes in the bottom for drainage.

"Keep damp and in a few days the little tree will emerge –– they can stay outside but need to be tended, and later can be transferred to a one gallon pot," he said.

Bowman added the new post oaks can be planted in the ground the following spring.

"This is a great family, class or Scout project," he said. "We can help replace the native trees we are losing."