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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: pdk25 on January 17, 2016, 02:56:00 PM

Title: Acorn drop
Post by: pdk25 on January 17, 2016, 02:56:00 PM
OK oak tree experts.  I have a variety of red and white oak species on my property, but The ID of them isn't really mu question.  Some of my trees dropped almost all of their acorns within a few days, some over a few weeks.  I have one tree in my back yard that still has a few left, but has been dropping acorns steadily for over 3 months now.  Pretty surprising to me.  I was wondering what factors might be in play.  It is a nice mature tree that seems healthy.
Title: Re: Acorn drop
Post by: on January 17, 2016, 10:55:00 PM
Ha, we did not have hardly any acorns around here this year! It sure helps to not have a big acorn crop when you are trying to deer hunt!

Bisch
Title: Re: Acorn drop
Post by: pdk25 on January 17, 2016, 11:31:00 PM
No doubt.  I went for a walk today, and it is still like walking on marbles.
Title: Re: Acorn drop
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on January 18, 2016, 07:32:00 AM
Pat, I suspect its specific environmental factors for the specific tree.

some may have access to more water at the roots and during  dry times me able to survive better, others who may be exposed to field edges or surrounded by pine trees may act differently between frosts while budding.

Of course these are just guesses.  If the trees are all next to each other or have the same situation, I would say they are just different genetically like animals or people.  One deer may jump your string and another may hear the sound and just look.
Title: Re: Acorn drop
Post by: bamboo on January 18, 2016, 08:07:00 AM
too many factors--but this may point you in the right direction--
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/2014/07/01/the-next-fifty-years-of-acorn-production/
Title: Re: Acorn drop
Post by: Bobaru on January 18, 2016, 09:34:00 AM
bamboo, excellent article...  

Your article prompted me to google "American Chestnut."  The Chestnut crop had been known to be much more reliable than acorns.  It turns out part of the reason is whether or not the flowers are killed by frost in the spring.

Interestingly, much of the chestnut research is being done only an hour from my home, near Syracuse, NY.  .... I'll have to visit!
Title: Re: Acorn drop
Post by: RC on January 18, 2016, 10:55:00 AM
Around here redoaks will fall out and be gone in two weeks. the same with white oaks and swamp chestnuts. water oaks will feed a couple of months dropping different with slight elevation and moisture changes. I`ve killed more critters on water oaks than anything other than persimmons. RC
Title: Re: Acorn drop
Post by: pdk25 on January 18, 2016, 03:44:00 PM
Thanks everyone.  Robert, that is what I found so unusual about this.  I have had other trees that have dropped in a couple of days.  I see this tree almost everday when I shoot my bows.  I can't believe that there are still a few acorns left.  Literally, they started falling in Late Sept or Early October.