There has been widespread concern that some native California oaks were not regenerating adequately. Three California oak species (blue oak, valley oak and Engelmann oak) have been repeatedly identified as species that have inadequate regeneration to maintain current stand densities.
There has been considerable research during the past several decades on where and why oak regeneration is problematic and how to successfully artificially regenerate oaks. In addition, the University of California has hosted numerous training sessions where the latest information on oak regeneration has been disseminated.
Oak Regeneration: Species, Planting Methods, and Care Information
Stump Sprouting: An Alternative Regeneration Approach
 Information on poor natural regeneration and conditions under which this problem seems most acute; acorn physiology; collection and storage of acorns for regeneration; oak seedling propagation; and planting, protecting, and maintaining oak seedlings in the field. By Douglas McCreary (2009) |
 Blue oak is regenerating poorly in portions of its range. Techniques to artificially regenerate trees by collecting acorns, growing seedlings in a nursery and then planting them are effective but costly. Improving the growth and survival rate of existing volunteer seedlings in woodlands could be more cost efficient and therefore more widely used. By Douglas D. McCreary, William Tietje, Josh Davy, Royce Larsen, Morgan Doran, Dustin Flavell, and Sergio Garcia (2011) |
Document  These guidelines provide successful techniques for growing oak trees. While there are many ways to get an oak tree started, the procedures described have proved successful for a variety of species and environments. By Douglas D. McCreary (1983) |
The webinar presents information on oak regeneration in California, developed as part of a comprehensive program on oak management in the spring of 2012. By Douglas McCreary Part of the Woodlands: Planning Oak Management Youtube series. |
 Livestock grazing remains a common practice on California’s hardwood rangelands. This can create problems for oak regeneration because grazing has been identified as one of the factors limiting the establishment of certain oak species... Oaks taller than 6.5 feet seem relatively resistant to cattle damage in lightly By Douglas D. McCreary and Melvin R. George (2005) |
California’s Oak Woodland Species There are over 20 species of native California oaks. Several of these are endemic and grow naturally nowhere outside of California, while others are more wide ranging and grow from Canada to Mexico. Use the Oak Identification Tool to view descriptions of eight California tree oak species, including information about what the bark, leaves and acorns look like. There are also pictures and line drawings of each of these species, as well as range distribution maps and other species-specific information. |
