Saving McHenry Co. oaks starts with small steps

McHenry County's oak woodlands have been on a steady decline over the past 150 years. Due to invasive species and a multitude of stresses, regeneration is uncommon. If nothing is done, our oaks are in danger of disappearing in the next 20 years.

Promoting new growth of our oak woodland ecosystem is a very important component of Project Quercus. This year, the Land Conservancy of McHenry County is asking for your help to collect and sort acorns that will be used for future oak plantings in McHenry County. It's a great way to get your kids, friends, neighbors or students involved in a worthwhile project.

Acorn Collecting Guide

• Remove acorn caps and check acorns for damage before placing them in a collection bag.

• Reject any acorn with damage to the base of the acorn, usually caused when removing the cap from an immature acorn.

• Also reject any acorn with evidence of insects, bruises, cracks, misshapenness or if they're very small. (In years with poor acorn crops, it may be necessary to keep some acorns with bruises or minor insect damage.)

• Be sure to label each bag with the date collected, name of the species (scientific or common), where the acorns were collected, and the classification (upland or lowland).

• Remove the caps and check for damage before placing them in a brown grocery bag. Be sure to attach a tag to each bag listing the species name, date collected and general location of collection. Keep the acorns in a cool location, out of the sun.

• Acorns must be identified and labeled with the name of the species (scientific or common). If you are unsure, place a leaf from the oak tree into the bag for identification. They must be separated by species and whether they were collected from an upland or lowland area.

• Do not mix oak varieties in one bag. Use brown grocery bags and store the acorns in a cool location, out of the sun, until they can be delivered to the land conservancy office at 4506 Dean St., Woodstock, or call for pickup at (815) 337-9502.

Tags can be found at www.ConserveMC.org/

Begin checking for ripe acorns in late August when they start dropping to the ground. Acorns are ready when the caps are easily removed without damage to the nut. They may be picked directly from the tree when ripe. Select the largest acorns from the healthiest looking oak trees, and collect only those without signs of cracks, holes and those that feel hollow.

If you do not have oaks on your property, there are many other places you can go to collect. Look for areas that have been maintained like parks, churches, schools, golf courses, neighbors, etc. It's always good to have permission, and most people will want to help if you explain the program. For information, call (815) 337-9502.