Mother Nature has provided mankind with so much wonder and curiosity for all of recorded history. It seems that we just can’t help but look around at the planet that surrounds us and be awed. One thing that brings home much of this joy and wonder are the trees that we see.
Oak trees are particularly interesting to a lot of people because of their strength and ability to grow in most parts of the world. When looking at and examining oak trees for all that they are, we cannot forget that they are very much in need of having strong roots that keep them grounded and allow them to do what they need to do. In other words, we should try to be respectful of how oak trees grow and why it matters for the world that we want to live in.
Oak Tree Roots
The roots of an oak tree are very important to its ability to survive and grow. Despite this, oak tree roots are only about 18 inches beneath the surface of the Earth. This is not just a fun fact that you should know, but it is something that plays an integral part in the life of an oak tree and how it manages to survive in nearly all weather conditions.
It keeps its roots near the surface so it can draw in moisture even when there is very little to come by. This is part of the reason why oak trees have been so successful at growing and surviving no matter where they are found on the planet. An important thing to understand about oak trees is that their root system can also be something that works against them.
They have their roots so close to the Earth that they may struggle if there is pavement or some other obstructor that gets in their way. This is a known fact about oak trees, and it may be a reason why a particular oak tree is not able to survive under certain conditions. If you notice that there is an oak tree in your area that is struggling to thrive, it may be because it there are too many things getting in its way in terms of pavement, cement, or other creations of mankind that are causing some serious issues.
It is sad to see a tree struggle this much just to survive, but it is also a very real possibility with certain types of conditions.
Can You Grow Your Own Oak Trees?
You can absolutely grow your own oak trees as long as you are willing to put the required maintenance into them. You need to understand that an oak tree that is brand-new will require that you water it on a weekly basis in order for it to grow as it is supposed to. Additionally, you will want to check with your community to make sure you are permitted to grow these trees in your area.
There are typically no issues with this, but it is better to check and know for sure rather than to guess and be wrong. It takes a lot of discipline and diligence to grow an oak tree the way that it needs to grow. You have to be on top of things such as the weekly watering and monitoring its root growth.
You will need to check on it regularly to make sure it is thriving, and you will have to be mindful about where you put certain things near the tree. The last thing you want to do is obstruct it when you are the one trying to get it to grow in the first place. You will probably feel like it is a full-time job to keep up with all of this, but that is just how things go in the world of growing certain types of trees.
You have to do what you can to make the most of a difficult situation, but you can pull that off if you are willing to put forth the effort required to get these trees to grow.
Oak Trees Spend A Lot Of Energy Growing Their Roots
Oak trees are often very busy getting their roots to grow from the moment they begin life’s journey as an acorn. The pressure is on that tiny acorn to start growing its roots so that it can survive and thrive the way that it needs to.
Mostly, the acorn is looking for a reliable source of moisture. Water is the source of all life on Earth, so it makes sense that the acorn has adapted to make itself seek out the nearest water source where it can get something to drink. It is going to need water and sunshine to grow, but sunshine is a lot easier to find.
Working on growing roots that can find water consistently is the challenge that the acorn faces. If you are working on growing an oak tree from an acorn, you will get to see this amazing process unfold for yourself. However, it will take a very long time to get there.
You will need to be very patient as it is not something that will happen overnight. The entire process has to work its way through many complex systems in order to get things done properly. Sit back and relax and enjoy the show.
Just remember, you may be waiting a while before you see major results start to pop up.
What We Can Learn From This System
It might sound a little cheesy to say that we can stand to learn something from an oak tree, but it is also true. They grow and develop in special ways that are unique and we don’t often see in our daily lives. It is something that we should cherish, and it is something that can teach us a little more about who we are.
We deserve to spend time and energy on the things that are important to us (just like the oak tree does when it spends energy on its roots). We should also seek out environments that help us grow and thrive just like the oak tree does. In short, we should do what we can to try to make our lives a little more centered around the things that truly matter and less around things that are only designed to tear us down and make us worse.
If we can do that, then we are already on the path towards a more sustainable and healthier life. We owe that to ourselves, and we can have it all when we follow the example of the oak tree.