Hello- Is any one else dealing with a recent over abundance of acorns- I mean they cover the ground. Approx 10x normal fall season. If so ..,what is reasoning behind this scenario ?? Thank you. -Steve from PHL-ish.
Tends to be a 3 year cycle. If you had normal to above average rainfall during the spring and summer months it can prevent the trees from shedding excess acorn sets as the tree "senses" the lack of water Oh and welcome Elviss222
Last year there was more acorns and hickory nuts than I have seen here in 20 yrs, this year a lot, but not like last year
Google "Mast year." Somehow, it seems that many species of "mast" trees (oak, chestnut, beech, hickory, etc.) are able to time their max/min outputs over broad geographic regions, probably to compensate for consumers (squirrels and other varmints). It is truly a fascinating and as yet unexplained phenomenon.
Haven't looked too closely at the oaks, but the catalpas had so many cigars on them this year that a few months ago, the branches were almost touching the ground.
Interesting read: Woods Whys: Acorns and Weather | Summer 2015 I can get why trees would selectively breed out others that didn't produce excess with them - but the trees colluding to starve out the squirrels????
I've had a ton of Butternuts and Black Walnuts this year! Literally, I've loaded 5 Dumper loads at about 500 lbs each!
Dude, the squirrels are on crack. I was hiking and hear this screeching only to turn around and see 3 squirrels guarding their lot. All along the trail squirrels were going crazy over nuts. Reminded me of the Monty Python rabbit.
