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About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2017)
August 18, 2017 CapitalPress.com 13 Nursery grows from tiny acorns For the Capital Press POCATELLO, Idaho — Envisioning a stunning oak tree in his yard, Dave Luker stopped by a greenhouse in Pocatello decades ago and was told oak trees cannot grow in southeastern Idaho. “I grew up in Filer, and oak trees are everywhere be- cause settlers from Missouri planted them,” Luker says. That incident in 1983 compelled Luker to develop oak hybrids at his home nurs- ery. Working as a landscaper at a local hospital and later at nurseries, he planted oak trees throughout Pocatello that are thriving today. After wild turkeys were introduced to the region, he partnered with conservation- ists to plant oak trees for the birds. Since opening his busi- ness, WestWood Growers Conservation Nursery, Luker, 57, has become the only wholesale or retail nursery in Idaho offering more than 60 varieties of oak trees. He sells about 5,000 a year. He is not only an expert at growing oak trees, but other deciduous hardwoods. “I did a mission for my church in Ohio and saw an amazing variety of trees. Other hardwoods that do well here are buckeye, beech, yellowwood, red-flowering chestnut and Turkish hazel. To stimulate seedling growth, Luker plants acorns and other trees in reusable plastic containers with per- forated holes that encourage lateral root growth. He also uses mycorrhizal fungi in a liquid to stimulate nutrient absorption in a tree. “To plant a tree, ideal- ly you should colonize the planting site with wood chips for up to a year. You can put down cardboard and pour a free 25-gallon pot of chips on it that we have here. When you plant a tree in a well pre- pared site like that, it will re- ally take off.” Besides providing oak trees of all sizes to landscape companies and consum- ers, Luker gathers 5 tons of acorns from mid-September to early November to sell to nurseries every year. “Idaho is the only place in the country without wee- vil,” he says. “The acorns I pick up in Utah are heated in 120-degree water in a big pot for 30 minutes to kill the weevil without harming the acorn.” For several years, Luker has partnered with local members of the National Tur- key Federation to plant thou- sands of oak trees. “Turkeys eat acorns in the fall and the male catkins in spring,” says Luker. “Flocks do well when oak trees are around.” Many of his trees are also ideal for shelterbelts on ag land. “Shelterbelts are a worth- while investment,” he says. “Livestock does better with shade and shelter, and certain crop yields improve with a windbreak. You need at least three rows with a dense shrub, evergreen and hardwood.” One of the most eye-catch- ing oaks Luker has planted is a cross of a big bur oak and Dianna Troyer/For the Capital Press Acorns and other trees are planted in reusable plastic containers with perforated holes that encourage lateral root growth. West- Wood Growers Conservation Nursery offers 60 types of oak trees. a little live oak, bred by Wal- ter Cottam at the University of Utah. It grows near the former Bannock Memorial Hospital. “Most people think it’s a holly bush because it has leathery leaves that stay green through December,” he says. “It grows as a small shrub without irrigation but can reach 35 feet tall with irriga- tion. It’s beautiful.” Luker advocates planting trees that are less common. “It ultimately increases the diversity of our plant commu- nities and limits the risk of major pest attacks,” he says. Online www.westwoodgrowers.com Dianna Troyer/For the Capital Press Deciduous tree expert Dave Luker sells thousands of oaks for landscaping and wild turkey habitat. N17-3/#5 By DIANNA TROYER SERIES 3120R 3520R 3510H 4020R 4525R 4720H 6640 8050 24 - 80 hp., 4 wheel drive, Compact Synchro Shuttle; Hydro 24, 28, 35, 47hp N17-3/#08 Branson Model 4020R THE TRACTOR STORE (541) 342-5464 5450 W. 11 th , Eugene, OR N17-3/#08
