Looking for a professional opinion.

Chatting with some other outdoors guys today about the abundant acorns this year, both white and red oak varieties. We had a very dry summer so I was thinking the mast crop would be way down, but another guy said the oak trees actually produce more acorns in a dry year as a survival mechanism. Anyone know if that is true, and it sure seems to be counter-intuitive. Also where do they get the energy in a dry year to put into the acorns? Reduce leaf production?

Need an answer from someone who knows these things.

Not knowledgeable enough to answer your question but we had a massive crop this year.

I can't answer your question but I know a lot of old timers claim if you beat on an apple tree trunk it stresses the tree and it goes into "survival mode" and will produce a bigger crop. This may be similar to the oak's being drought stressed.

It is a sign from God,,,,,The End is Near

Yes, it is true of most fruiting plants. I learned it in college from one of my botany professors and we would intentionally stress plants to induce certain behaviors. Growth habits of plants can be altered in many ways and God has designed His creation to respond to the stresses that occur. Where they get the energy - well I would say photosynthesis of course........not sure of the exact triggers that control mast productions but I am sure a plant physiologist would have more in depth knowledge.

In some tree work - we would inject a certain chemical to reduce fruiting in landscrape trees like sweetgums as folks tend not to enjoy stepping on the balls with bare feet.........

Sure seems like that around here too. Extreme drought this year. Never seen so many acorns. Deer in the yard almost every day gorging themselves.

dry here also
apple and plumb tree lost branches from the weight of all the fruit

Old timers said it means it’s gonna be a long cold winter. Guess we’ll see.

Makes sense,,,,, God provides

Apple trees rely on blossoms which occurred in the early spring before the drought began, so it seems like that wouldn't relate.

we had apple trees that blossomed again a few weeks ago - others did too - so, yes, it would sort of relate as the plants are still trying to produce. This was the first time in my life I have seen it

Blossoms require water to produce healthy fruit was my understanding

dryer here than it haas been in 50 years, almost no acorns here this year

Pines will do that. One thing I watch for is trees with a excessive load of cones.

Not a forester but it has been my assumption that nut and fruit trees and impacted substantially by Spring weather during pollination season.

In Western NC we had a heavy mast crop last year as well as this year.

Me neither but I read that it's all about pollination including wind and insect activity.

I AM a retired forester!

Many species of trees respond to various types of stress (including drought...) by producing more "seed." That would be cones for coniferous species and mast (acorns) for oaks.

Pete

That's what I needed to hear, but it's only part of the issue. Where do they get the "energy" to produce more seed? If it's a drought, or other kind of stress, they are already lacking resources, so where do they get the resources to produce more seed? They must rob it from some other area... leaves, branches, bark, growth, etc. ?

You would think over-producing acorns in itself has to be stressfull to the tree. My 35 year old walnut tree in my yard has never had a bad year since it started producing- and pretty consistent at that.

Good question. My understanding is that some trees have a "reserve storage battery" type of system where that comes from. Whether to get them through long term stressors or a boost to put on seed when the tree is threatened.

But to be honest I don't know the biology of it all or if my understanding is even correct. Just some reading up on pecans and why they are alternate bearers and how a heavy crop year can drain them down so they may not bear well for the next two or even three years.