Acorn & Nut Collection

The 2025 collection season has closed. Thank you for helping us collect over 1,400 lbs of seeds for donation to the Virginia Department of Forestry!

Why collect nuts and acorns?

Each year, the Virginia Department of Forestry collects a variety of species of acorns and nuts that can be planted at its Augusta Nursery to grow into tree seedlings. Certain nuts can be difficult to find regionally, and availability changes year to year.

Without the help of volunteers and local seed collection efforts, it's not possible to fill the demand for tree planting projects across the state. That's why the City of Fairfax is partnering with Potomac Conservancy's Tomorrow's Trees initiative to collect seeds this fall.

If you're a private property owner in the city (such as a homeowner, HOA, religious institution, or commercial property manager) who would like to allow our staff to collect acorns or nuts on your property, please fill out this form.

Accepted species

* These species are especially in need at the nursery.

Oak species

White oak group

White oak leaves have rounded lobes with smooth edges.

Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)

Chestnut oak (Quercus montana)*

Live oak (Quercus virginiana)

Overcup oak (Quercus lyrata)

Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii)

Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor)

White oak (Quercus alba)*

Red oak group

Red oak leaves have pointed lobes with sharp, bristle-like tips.

Black oak (Quercus velutina)*

Cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda)

Northern red oak (Quercus rubra)

Pin oak (Quercus palustris)

Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea)

Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii)

Southern red oak (Quercus falcata)

Water oak (Quercus nigra)

Willow oak (Quercus phellos)

Other species

Allegheny chinkapin (Castanea pumila) - collect with gloves to avoid pricks!

American hazelnut (Corylus americana)

Black walnut (Juglans nigra)* - watch out for stains!

Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) - collect with gloves to avoid pricks!

Acorn and nut collection

Acorn and nut collection will take place from September 1 to October 14, 2025. All collections must be dropped off at our "Acorn Station" at the Fairfax City Composting Center (10455 Armstrong St) before October 15, 2025, to ensure donation to the Virginia Department of Forestry.

Fairfax City Seed Collection Map

Where to collect

• Acorn production is extremely variable and unpredictable, and oaks have mast (high production) years on their own timelines. If you don't find any acorns under your tree, try another location or oak species.
  
  
• Look around for healthy, mature trees that are dropping acorns or nuts. Trees should be free from disease or deformities.
  
  
• Collect only where you can correctly identify the tree from which the nuts or acorns fell. Suitable locations include lawn areas such as yards, trees along sidewalks or in parking lots, or park trees in open areas.
  
  
• Try not to collect in forested areas or trails. Additionally, street medians and busy roadways should generally be avoided for safety.
  
  
• If there are multiple species of oak trees dropping acorns in the same area, you may want to choose another location to collect from. For example, if you are in the woods, it may be challenging or impossible to identify individual species of acorns.
  
  
• Always ask for permission to collect on private property.

• Don't know where to start? Check out our Fairfax City Seed Collection Map.

How to collect

• Acorns and nuts should be collected in paper, burlap, or mesh bags. Reuse clean bags you have at home or pick up a free bag from the bin at our "Acorn Station" at the Fairfax City Composting Center (10455 Armstrong St).
  
  
• You can temporarily collect your acorns in buckets or other containers separated by species, then transfer each species into a separate bag.
  
  
• Do not mix acorns or nuts from different species in the same bag.
  
  
• If you have multiple trees of the same species, acorns or nuts can be included in a single bag. For example, if you're collecting acorns from a sidewalk lined entirely with willow oaks, those acorns can be mixed in the same bag(s).
  
  
• Identify your tree species with our Fairfax City Seed Collection Map, the iNaturalist app, or a field guide, such as this one for oaks: Field Guide to Native Oak Species of Eastern North America. For acorn identification help, check out the Virginia Department of Forestry's Acorn and Nut Identification Guide. 

Choosing the right seeds

• Acorns and nuts should be collected from the ground, not from branches.
  
  
• Collected acorns should be tan or brown, not green, to indicate maturity. Acorns that are turning from green to brown are okay.
  
  
• Acorns can be collected with or without the cap. Caps can help with species identification.
   
• Hollow nuts or those with sprouts, cracks, or holes should be avoided. Do NOT float test your acorns if you plan to donate them, please.
  
  
• Black walnut, Allegheny chinkapin, American hazelnut, and Chinese chestnut nuts may or may not be in a husk when located. There's no need to remove the nuts, and husks can be left intact.
  
  
• Check that the acorns of the species you are collecting all have a similar color, shape, and shell.
  
  
• Leave 1/3 of the nuts or acorns from any given tree for wildlife.
  
  

How to drop off

• Place each species in a separate bag labeled with the species name (e.g., white oak), date of collection (e.g., 10/5/2025), and location (e.g., Fairfax City, VA). Labels are provided at our "Acorn Station" bin to attach to your bags. We cannot identify acorns if you mix the species in bags!
  
  
• Acorns or nuts placed in a bag with yard clippings, gravel, or other debris cannot be donated to the Virginia Department of Forestry. Please help us out by ensuring only nuts, acorns, and at most one or two leaves or twigs for identification are in bags. Don't just rake acorns and leaves into a bag.
  
  
• Consider including a leaf and twig from the tree to help the Virginia Department of Forestry staff identify your tree.
  
  
• Bring your bag(s) to our "Acorn Station" at the Fairfax City Composting Center (10455 Armstrong St) as soon as possible to prevent sprouting or acorn weevils from escaping.
  
  
• Acorns and nuts can be stored in a cool, dry location (out of direct sunlight) for a few days before drop-off. Do not freeze your acorns or nuts. The refrigerator is an acceptable temporary location. Be aware that bags of acorns or nuts may attract insects if stored inside your home.
  
  
• Please fully close the lid to the bin(s) after drop-off to keep squirrels and the weather out. Thanks for helping to keep our donation bin organized and secure!

If you do not live or work in Fairfax City, there may be a closer location for you to drop off your acorns! Check out the Tomorrow's Trees website to find a location near you in VA, DC, and MD.

 

When

Location

Visit our "Acorn Station" at the Fairfax City Composting Center. A temporary 5-minute parking spot is available for drop-off. Other public parking is also available around City Hall. Take the CUE Bus to stops 127 and 120 on the Green and Gold routes.

Fairfax City Composting Center - City Hall, 10455 Armstrong St, 22030, View Map