Planting an Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana) tree from seed involves several steps to ensure successful germination and growth.

Here's a guide to help you through the process:

Collecting Acorns

• Timing: Collect acorns in the fall when they are mature and have fallen from the tree. Mature acorns are usually brown and detach easily from their caps.
• Selection: Choose acorns that are free from holes, mold, or other signs of damage.

Preparing Acorns

• Float Test: Place the acorns in a bowl of water overnight. Discard any that float, as they are likely not viable.
• Cold Stratification: Oregon White Oak acorn's natural cycle is to fall in the autumn and go in the ground when it's still cold and wet. If you are not ready to pot your acorns just yet, you can mimic winter conditions by drying them off and placing the acorns in a plastic bag with moist sand or peat moss and refrigerating for 60-90 days so that they can get a period of cold stratification to germinate.
• Note: It’s best to plant within the same growth year (i.e. acorns collected in November should be planted before the following summer).

Potting Acorns

• Timing: If using cold stratification, plant the acorns in early spring. Otherwise, acorns can be planted immediately after soaking!
• Container: Place the acorns in a long treepot or a 1-gallon nursery pot, which you can find online or at your local nursery. Fill the pot with a mix of outdoor soil, ideally sourced from beneath an oak tree, and potting soil in equal parts.
• Depth: Place the acorn sideways about 1/4 inch below the soil surface, then cover it with soil.
• Cover: To protect the acorn from animals, cover the top of the pot with wire mesh or another breathable barrier. Expect a sprout to appear in the spring. 

Caring for Seedlings

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water the area gently to avoid washing away the soil.
• Protection: Keep the sprout protected with the cover and in the pot for one or two years.
• Weeding: Remove competing weeds and grasses around the seedlings to reduce competition for nutrients and water.

Choosing a Location

When planting, consider the future and how a tree that can grow up to 100 feet tall and wide will fit into the space in 100 years.

• Location: Choose a sunny spot, as oaks thrive with full sun exposure.
• Spacing: Ensure there is at least 40-50 feet of space from other trees and buildings.
• Watering: For larger trees (more than a few feet tall), provide water during the first summer or two to help establish roots.
• Weeds: Plant in an open area free from aggressive weeds like Himalayan blackberry and Reed canary grass.
• Soil Conditions: Avoid planting directly in standing water. While oaks can handle wet soils, it’s best not to plant them in a wetland.

Transplanting

• Timing: If you started the acorns in pots, transplant the seedlings to their permanent location after one or two years, when they are about 6-12 inches tall.
• Planting: After choosing your location thoughtfully, dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root system, and plant the seedling at the same depth it was growing in the pot. Backfill the hole with soil and water thoroughly.
• Mulching: After planting, spread a layer of mulch (such as bark chips or leaf litter) a few inches thick around the base of the tree to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Make sure to leave a small gap a few inches between the mulch and the tree stem to allow for proper air circulation. 

Long-Term Care

• Watering: Water the young trees regularly, especially during dry periods, for the first few years.
• Weeding and Mulching: Continue to weed and apply mulch around the base of the tree each year until it grows taller than the surrounding weeds.
• Pruning: Prune any dead or damaged branches to promote healthy growth and shape the tree.
• Wildlife: If wildlife such as beavers and deer are present in your area, consider placing a cage or tube around the tree to protect it during its first few years. These tubes are also useful for preventing accidental damage from stepping on or mowing over the young tree. You can find "seedling protectors" by searching forest supply companies online.

With patience and proper care, your Oregon White Oak tree will grow into a majestic and resilient tree, providing ecological benefits and beauty for generations.

Find more information on Planting Native Oak in the Pacific Northwest here:

More of a visual learner? Check out this video of Tualatin SWCD Conservation Specialist Mike Conroy and retired Oregon Department of Forestry Forester Mitch Taylor showing us how to start an Oregon white oak seedling with harvested acorns: