B Grade Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

1 year old 8"-12" bareroot seedling

‘Grade B’ plants are smaller seedlings that finished the season a bit undersized to be considered ready for field planting for many folks. They are healthy and alive, but a bit small (usually less than 8") and able to get lost in the weeds quickly. They can be field planted to their final homes if you are on top of  watering, mulching, and weeding. We recommend  planting them in a home nursery bed to grow for one full season, develop much larger root systems and be very ready for tougher conditions and less care next year. This is an affordable and sensible way to start small so you can go big with your plantings.

Our Red Oak seedlings come from trees planted in an urban setting as boulevard trees that all produce abundant crops of acorns. Red Oak is one of the most commonly planted trees across north America because of its wide site adaptability.

Quercus Rubra produces dense beautiful wood valued by wood workers. Red Oaks generate large masting crops every 2-3 years of large acorns that are easily processed and valued by humans and wildlife alike. They tolerate compact soils in polluted areas which is probably why they are so commonly planted in urban settings. Red Oaks are beautiful shade trees that can be pruned to timber form or allowed to branch laterally that result in gnarled individuals aesthetically pleasing and wonderful to climb.

Pick a sunny site and plan for a tree that can grow up to 75 feet tall. Prefers well draining soil with moderate fertility.