Any one else experiencing a bumper season with mast trees? Old wives tales indicate a good winter ahead.
Mast year
- Thread starter Raintree
- Start date
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Yep the oaks have pumped out a bumper crop this year.
The oaks started dropping a month ago here, and heavy. Interestingly NOAA is predicting a strong el Nino which generally translates to a milder winter for this area.
For my woods it's the walnuts, white oaks and the hickory nuts that are in abundance.
My Shagbark Hickories (most of them) are just full of nuts this year,best year since 2013.I've picked up 6-7 pounds a few days ago,hope to get another 5-6 pounds in week or so.If my back would cooperate I could get 15 pounds per acre if I really wanted..Leaving the majority of them for squirrels,chipmunks,other wildlife.Havent checked the various Red,Black,White,Bur Oaks yet,the DNR & others says its a good year for them too.A decent amount off the 2 big Black Walnuts in backyard so far,just what's dropped early in past couple weeks,last year I ended up with between 8 & 9 bushels before they were husked/run through the old corn sheller.Almost 4 bushels once husked & cleaned up.
Beginning 3rd year of a drought,9 months in a row with below normal precip,so that's probably part of the reason for the big nut crop.Trees ''think'' a prolonged dry period means its the end for them,so they normally produce a bigger amount of seeds.
Beginning 3rd year of a drought,9 months in a row with below normal precip,so that's probably part of the reason for the big nut crop.Trees ''think'' a prolonged dry period means its the end for them,so they normally produce a bigger amount of seeds.
Abbeville TSI
ArboristSite Operative
last year was big for acorns, not so much this year. The walnuts and hickories are producing well.
Oaks,beech,wild black cherry, apples that missed late spring frost
Not to derail but whats defined as a "good winter"? Lots of snow or minimal snow?
No problem, let me clarify a "good winter" is considered a "real winter".
Hmmm. I think good or bad for any winter mostly involves two considerations: snow or ice accumulations, and temperature. Apart from snow removal contractors and ski resorts, most folks think of more frozen precipitation than average as "bad". Colder weather than average, is also considered bad.
Being an arborist I tend to think in terms of benefits for trees. Cold winters help suppress unwanted pests and invasives. Snowy winters insulate root zones and replenish aquifers.
... colder than average winters cause devastating winter kill, especially if sunny and dry.
(kinda depends upon where that invasive species is from, too)
(kinda depends upon where that invasive species is from, too)
Bill G
ArboristSite King
I believe that depends on a man's perspective. For me I want it warm and no snow. The sky resort wants it 20F and lots of snow.
When I was in the plowing Biz a good winter was lots of small snowfalls. easy to clean up and salt.
