Acorns

Went to our land today which is in Waupaca Co. The white oaks have a bumper crop of acorns. Have hunted there for 50 + years and this is the most I've ever seen. Didn't look real hard but saw 0 red oak acorns. I know the amount of rain in spring and getting a late frost has a effect on the acorn crop. Does anyone know the science behind why one oak would produce so well and the other not. Of our oaks about 90 % are red and some years it can be almost like walking on marbles when the reds produce, but not this year. Do have a stand in one of the spots that is more white oak so that is gonna be good

Hey pse you stole my line, whenever I can't find my golf ball "it must be in the mud on the fairway...I'll just drop a new one right here" 

Quite a few acorns already dropping in the Southeast part of the state.. Was out yesterday and saw alot of sign by the oak trees/acorns.. Unfortunately the mosquitos are also out in force with all the recent rains. Was walking an edge of a soybean field and mumerous skeets came up with every step (and it was a windy day)..

Looks like early season is going to have alot of skeets and my thermacells will get used. 

Ton's of acorns on both the red and white oaks on our property in Marquette county.  None are close to dropping yet and most of the acorns on the red oaks were still green.  In addition the apple crop for this year looks exceptional as well.  We have a couple random trees on the farm that are absolutely loaded with fruit.

White oaks are dropping pretty well around here. Went golfing a couple miles down the road and the white oaks were really dropping. Walked within 10 yards of three deer as they at acorns. Never found my ball. Buried in mud in the fairway. Too much rain lately

They’ve been all over the acorns in my yard this week

Acorns

Here is a good article about oaks and acorns.

Neighbor,county to Waupaca and both whites and reds are loaded. Last year was poor. On our property anyway

I wouldn't waste money fertilizing oaks. A healthy tree doesn't need it. Spend those dollars on some other type of land improvements.

I don't personally fertilize any oak trees.  I have read about others doing it and it is supposedly effective.  On our land and my buddy's land next to us, we have very few mature oak trees to even try that with.  Our efforts are spent on planting a lot more oak and other hard and soft mast trees.  We are more focused on volume than boosting production of what is there. 

What is your process for fertilizing around the trees

Good discussion here and the different characteristics of various oak trees highlights the need to be diverse in your wildlife plantings.  At our place we spent close to a decade building plots and getting crop areas figured out.  Now we are about 5 years into a fairly heavy tree planting program. Between native species and hybrids we are planting about a dozen different species of oaks.  While split between red oak and white oak varieties, we are also matching to soil types and wanted as large of a variety as possible to increase our odds of good crops on an annual basis.  While the red oak's 18 months to maturity and white oaks 6 months to maturity are important considerations, also know that the various species within those families will flower at slightly different times so the larger the variety, the less likely a single cold snap will kill your crop.  With some of our earlier planted native varieties we have started to get acorn crops at about 10 years with northern red oak and swamp white oak. 

You can also cut and fertilize around your native oaks to improve acorn yields if you wish. 

I have heard the same thing,every two years.but on my land I have some trees that have acorns almost ever year.

Last year not alot this year looks real good.

I had no idea either, learned something new.

countyline, very interesting. Never knew that about red oaks. Did some research after reading your post and you nailed it.Love learning new facts like this.  I am only guessing but bet a lot of guys don't know it is a 2 year process. Thanks

Hey Griff,

Red Oaks acorns take two growing seasons to mature.

So say if no late frost this spring, then those acorns will drop next fall, 2019.

Late flower killing frost this spring, tree would need to have a successful pollination next spring to drop in 2020.  

So depending on mother nature Red Oak acorn crops can be very spurratic in areas with spring frost.

No acorn crop is never the same, rain drought, temps, tree health. So many things can affect the crops.

Enjoy butchering them fat deer this fall.??