The Virginia Department of Forestry in the US is after 12 species of acorns and nuts that can be planted at its Augusta Forestry Centre to grow into tree seedlings that will become the forests of tomorrow. Source: Timberbiz
Each year, VDOF asks the public from across the state to collect and donate nuts of select species to be planted at the state nursery. These seeds will produce next year’s hardwood seedling crop, which will be sold to Virginia’s forestland owners.
Seedlings grown from Virginia-grown seed generally produces trees that will best thrive in the state’s climates.
In 2019, Virginians did a tremendous job collecting acorns for the nursery.
“The public supplied us with tons of acorns and walnuts last year. I am always amazed at the output by Virginians every year,” Assistant Forestry Centre Manager Josh McLaughlin. said.
Certain nuts can be difficult to find regionally, and availability can change year to year. At times, one species of tree in a region may produce minimal acorns, while others are abundant with “acorns hanging like bunches of grapes,” Mr McLaughlin said.
That is why VDOF puts out a call-to-action for landowners across the state. The more trees that can be identified for collection, the more nuts can be potentially planted in the nursery.
Virginia landowners interested in sharing their acorns or nuts are asked to follow guidelines. The species the tree nursery needs this year are: black oak, black walnut, Chinese chestnut, chestnut oak, live oak, northern red oak, pin oak, southern red oak, swamp chestnut oak, swamp white oak, white oak and willow oak.
