Oak at all times was considered not only a valuable tree, but also a symbol of strength, power, longevity and invincibility. No wonder he was depicted on the arms of the nobility, he was worshiped, among many peoples this tree was sacred and was part of cult rituals.
Mongolian oak, although it bears such a name, is currently not found in this country, although it was first discovered and described there. Like other representatives of the beech family, this strong and tall tree is a frequent “guest” and adornment of parks and squares.
Homeland of mongolian oak
Currently, Mongolian oak is most often found in the Far East, in Eastern Siberia and Asia. The beauty and become of this tree made him a favorite of many cities and towns.
The distribution area of this species is very wide. Mongolian oak (photo below) is found in the southeast of Transbaikalia, in the Amur Region and Khabarovsk Territory, Primorye and Korea, the northern regions of China and Japan. Usually it forms groves along river valleys and on mountain slopes, reaching a height of 700 meters.
Pure plantings are rare and only on dry loam, while mixed with larch, Korean pine and cedar, oaks are adjacent to more humid soils.
Tree description
Large and tall trees stand out even in the dense forest. The same can be said about the Mongolian oak. The description of this powerful handsome man should begin with his growth, usually reaching 30 m in height. Its top is crowned with a thick crown, similar to an open tent, as if woven from carved elongated leathery leaves. On one tree, the length of the leaves can vary from 8 to 20 cm with a width of 7 to 15 cm.
The bark of Mongolian oak changes throughout life as it grows, which, by oak standards, is not so long: from 200 to 400 years. At first it is light gray, but every year it gets darker, reaching in some cases almost black.
The Mongolian oak blossoms in May, and by the beginning of September strong small acorns are already ripening up to 2 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width.
To grow a powerful tree from such a small fruit is a real science, but for hundreds of years it will be an adornment of a park or square.
Tree planting
To become a truly powerful Mongolian oak, cultivation begins with the choice of site and soil preparation. This tree does not like strong winds, excessive moisture and acidic soil. If it is assumed that coniferous trees will surround it, then a sufficient distance between them should be observed, since they violate the acid-base level of the earth. The best place for him would be a well-lit, windless area with fertile soil.
There are two ways to grow Mongolian oak. Planting, caring for a seedling is not much different, but the timing of growing up varies significantly. Reproduction is done by planting acorns or oak seedlings.
Before planting, healthy fruits with a dense and integral structure should be selected. It is important that the acorns are not hollow, and in order to check this, they must be immersed in water or shaken. If the fetus is rotten from the inside and looks healthy from the outside, then when the shake is shaken, the dust will knock on its walls. A healthy acorn has an elastic "body" that does not make any sounds during a concussion.
If planting is carried out in the fall, it is necessary to take care in advance of protecting the seeds from frost, which they do not tolerate. The acorn is buried to a depth of 6 cm, covered with foliage or deadwood, and on top with rubber or film to protect the seedlings from excess moisture. If you plant in the spring, then these manipulations can be avoided, but in winter you still have to protect the young sprout from the cold.
It is safer when acorns are previously germinated at home, then rodents will not dig them out of the ground in winter and will not eat them. With such a planting, Mongolian oak will give a strong shoot, growing and caring for it will not require much effort.
You should know: the first few years, the tree grows very slowly, spending all its strength on strengthening the root system. And only after 2-3 years can we observe noticeable changes in the growth of its terrestrial part.
Oak Care
In order for the tree to really turn out to be stately and with a spreading beautiful crown, care is required for it.
- Regular weeding of weeds while the shoots are young. It is very important that the sprout is not closed from the sun.
- Water should be provided in the first years of the life of the Mongolian oak, especially during the formation of the root system.
- Additional moisture should be provided to the tree in a dry summer, and to protect them from excess moisture in the rainy season, you can use mulch.
- The Mongolian oak is not resistant to powdery mildew, which affects not only the leaves, but also the trunk of the tree, so it should be sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate.
- By winter, the thin trunks of young trees are wrapped up, and the roots are warmed with foliage.
- To prevent exposure to harmful insects, such as oak barbel or leafworm, seedlings are treated with Decis solution.
As a rule, the Mongolian oak tree needs such care exclusively at an early age, and as it grows, you can limit yourself to top dressing and preventive spraying.
Mongolian oak formation
In the first five years of tree growth, it is very important to form its trunk. It is during this period that the development of the central conductor begins, and in order for the nutrients to reach it to the maximum, competing shoots must be trimmed.
The main task of the gardener is the formation of the thickness of the future mighty trunk, for which in mid-May pinching shoots of thickening is carried out. They develop along the entire length of the stem until it reaches the required thickness, after which they are cut out.
The shoots of thickening are removed sequentially: first, from the lower part of the trunk, which first acquires the required dimensions, in the second year from the middle, and in the third - all remaining.
The laying of the crown also requires attention. As a rule, in nurseries, Mongolian oak is grown up to 20 years, after which a beautiful tree of 8 meters high with a developed dense crown is transplanted to its permanent "place of residence".
Oak pruning
A feature of oaks is the presence of the main stem, which continues to grow throughout their life. As a rule, a Mongolian oak forms one, less often two or more trunks. In order for both the crown and the stem to grow powerful, side branches are trimmed every 2-3 years.
When the apical kidney is removed, the upward growth of the oak tree slows down, which allows it to create a strong base and significantly develop and deepen the root system. If you remove a part of the growth each time, then you can form an openwork crown that will let in the sun's rays, which are so important for the underground part of the tree.
The best time for pruning is early spring, but provided that the air temperature is not lower than +5 degrees.
In adult oak, dry or damaged branches are trimmed, giving space for the formation of new lateral processes.
Useful properties of Mongolian oak
No wonder the Mongolian oak became sacred for many peoples. The use of its bark for medical purposes was practiced by healers and shamans in ancient times. The astringent and antibacterial properties of oak bark were used to heal ulcers and wounds, to stop internal bleeding and treat gastric diseases. No less useful are these properties for the elimination of toxins in case of poisoning with fungi and inflammation in the oral cavity, for example, with periodontal disease.
A woman's acorn decoction has long been used for douching for inflammation of the female reproductive organs. The bark of Mongolian oak, crushed to a powder state, can be brewed like coffee, and the leaves of the tree were used to pickle vegetables. No wonder oak barrels were considered the most valuable for storing wine and salting.
