When to collect young English oaks?

Fonz

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Next to where I live is a piece of land that recently changed owners. The new owners want to clean it up completely before building a house on it. On taht piece of land is a 100+ year old English oak. They're going to cut it down. There are also a bunch of young oaks on it, probably 3-4 years old. I found 2 that seem to have some potential. Now because I've been enjoying the big oak for as long as I've lived here I want to save some of it (sentimental stuff). So is it possible to dig out the 2 little oaks with potential and put them in a 5 gallon container this time of year? Their leaves recently styarted to change color so I'm guessing their sap flow is still pretty active now...
 

Wires_Guy_wires

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I have no experience with fall collection of oaks, but spring worked best for me compared to summer.
I'll need 2 years to reduce the tap root as well.
 

Fonz

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What do you guys use as as soil for these collected youngsters? I have some bags with akadam/pumice mix. Or should I add some organics as well?
 

GGB

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I had some quercus rober (robur) that I have since sold, but .. I always did my root work in the fall, around october 30th and never lost a tree. They were all pretty young, maybe around 4/5 years. If they were older/nicer I may have done it in spring but I first did fall root reductions out of need. I have read that fall is a great time to do it and since I had success I just kept doing it then. didn't lose a single tree. started with 13, sold 12 and hit one with the lawn mower. It's alive now but these things grow so slow I ignore it
 

Wires_Guy_wires

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I use pine bark, peat (tuinturf) and inorganics at almost equal portions. It seems to work well.
 

Fonz

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Ok, change of plans. I came home today to find a bunch of excavators next to our house. I was able to dig up 1 little tree already and put it in some inorganic soil. Should I prune it already so next year it can make a fresh start or should I leave it like it is and pray for the best?

20181115_193508.jpg
 

Potawatomi13

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Since tree is in energy positive mode(energy stored in roots)could trim back some but suggest not drastically in case of "shock" factor to tree;). Likely will survive unless majority of roots removed. Personally use about 60% pumice 1/8-1/4 inch size, 40% organic(sifted bark).
 
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I used old soil, mix from aka, bins, lava, kiryu and a hand off new cutting soil. And i cut them back hard. For example #2 you don't need 3 tops/apax, select 1 and cut back the others.
 

Tieball

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Nice work on the Oaks. Keep on posting...progress appreciated.
 
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