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Oaks: essential to Illinois
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October marks Oak Awareness Month in Illinois, known as "Oaktober."
Why dedicate an entire month to a single type of tree? Well, oaks are what is known as a "keystone" species- a plant that provides so much essential food to other living creatures that without it, the entire local food web would fall apart. In fact, oaks are by far the most essential keystone species in our state.
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Oaks have been found to feed over 550 different types of caterpillars alone. (By comparison, most of our other native trees don't even break 50 species of caterpillar.) Those caterpillars are absolutely essential for nesting birds, most of which rely heavily on caterpillars to feed their nestlings in spring. For example, chickadees were found to require 6,000 to 9,000 caterpillars to raise a single nest of five offspring.
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Aside from caterpillars, oaks also support an interconnected web of plants, animals, insects and fungi, all essential to the health of their environment.
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Many animals are heavily reliant on acorns for food. For instance, acorns make up about 25% of a deer's diet in fall. Acorns also feed a wide array of other animals, including squirrels and birds. As if that weren't enough, the fallen leaves of oaks provide shelter to hundreds of species of invertebrates, without which countless larger animals couldn't survive.
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Unfortunately our native oaks have been losing ground for over a hundred years. In the 1830s, oaks constituted 60% of Illinois forests, but their presence has plummeted to a mere 5% today. Our forests have grown smaller and more fragmented. Overpopulation of deer causes damage to and death in young trees, and invasive species like bush honeysuckle crowd out seedlings.
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The good news is that a single oak tree can live hundreds of years- some surviving to be 900 years old or more!
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Nurture a young oak with regular water and a trunk guard to protect it from deer, and you're truly making an investment in the future.
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We have over half a dozen different types of oaks in stock right now, available in a range of sizes. If you've been considering a new tree at home, or are involved in selecting trees for a business or nonprofit, you can make a lasting difference by planting an oak!
Visit hoerrnursery.com/trees to learn more about getting a young tree off to a good start, and to browse our selection.
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The time to plant bulbs is now!
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Did you know that the best time to plant bulbs in the fall is when the soil temperature is between 55°F and 40°F? That's usually around October 10th to November 10th in Central Illinois- later than many gardeners realize.
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Planting bulbs in cool but not freezing soil helps them develop roots without triggering the shoot growth that will happen when the soil warms up in spring. We've got plenty of beautiful bulbs in stock- plant now, and you'll be rewarded with a beautiful garden come springtime!
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Festive holiday workshops:
limited space available!
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The holiday season is about to start, and what better way to add a personal touch to your celebrations than by joining one of the Hoerr Nursery holiday workshops?
While several of our classes have reached full capacity, we still have limited spots available for our wreath and porch pot decorating classes. Make the holiday season one-of-a-kind by joining us to create beautiful, handmade decorations for your home.
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On sale now
while supplies last!
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Fall Giftware - up to 30% off
Houseplants - 25% off
Pumpkins, mums, etc. - 30% off
Select Trees - 40-60% off
Select shrubs - 33% off
Small Fruits - 40% off
Blueberries, raspberries, etc.
Shrub Roses - 33% off
Roses - $15 each
David Austins, florabundas, grandafloras, hybrid teas & climbers
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