In celebration of Soil & Water Stewardship Week 2024, Tama Soil & Water Conservation District donated northern red oak seedlings to 322 sixth graders in the Green Mountain-Garwin, Meskwaki, South Tama, Union, North Tama and Gladbrook-Reinbeck School Districts.

This continues Tama SWCD’s annual sixth grade tree seedling distribution, which began in 1981.

Northern red oak is native to all of Iowa except the state’s far northwestern counties. It is fairly easy to transplant and grows faster than most oaks, often 24″ or more per year. This species is adapted to a wide range of sites and soil types but prefers full sun and turns red to red-brown in autumn.

It is the most valuable of Iowa’s red oaks for lumber production and makes excellent firewood. Its acorns are a good source of food for wildlife, and it provides cover and nesting sites for a variety of wildlife. Reaching a height of 60-80 feet tall and a spread of 60-80 feet wide, Northern red oak is an excellent shade tree.