Lots of folks are asking about two trees this fall--Oaks and Magnolias. There is acorn-ucopia of nuts out there meaning those pesky squirrels are enjoying quite the buffet while the rest of us are heading for cover!
I heard from acorn-cerned viewer: “I live in The Woodlands. Lately we have been inundated with massive numbers of acorns falling from trees. It’s gotten so bad that I have to wear a helmet every time I go outside. Where are all these acorns coming from? Never seen anything like it.” - Chris C.
Yep, it can drive you nuts! As Robin Curtiss says, it is an acorn-ageddon out there!
It’s an acorn-normous problem and no joke! Folks are claiming “bushels of acorns”, “driveway stains everywhere”, “squirrels going crazy”, “a constant bonk bonk bonk all day”. Bobbie Ireland’s flower beds in Atascocit acorn’t be more full:
The plethoracorns are a natural tree phenomenon called a ‘mast’. Basically, a boom year! Why this happens every few years is a bit of a mystery and it’s happened all across the country this year. For our area, landscaper Erik Ruediger of Scape HTX says: “Abundance of acorns around Houston is likely caused less by last December’s freeze and record summer heat/drought, and more attributed to oak trees experiencing a mast year, when fruit and nut bearing trees produce a bumper crop. General consensus is that variations in temperature and rainfall drive mast cycles, which can range from two to ten years depending on tree species. We’ve seen both extreme temperature and rainfall variations in the past few years, dating all the way back to our February 2021 freeze, which may be a contributing factor to acorn production.”
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In addition, trees seem to go through these mast events knowing that so many acorns will be eaten by squirrels, possums and raccoons that they have to produce more acorns every now and then just to ensure the cycle of life continues! They’re pro-tree-ating! An old farmer’s tale suggests that a lot of acorns indicate a harsh winter, but there is no kernel of truth to that. However, more acorns may indicate more pollinating next spring, so that’s coming achoo!
My colleague meteorologist Sarah Spivey from our sister station, KSAT, in San Antonio put together a great story on their acorn-nomical season.
As for Chris wearing a helmet around The Woodlands, that’s not acorny idea. Here is a fun take from a Chapel Hill newspaper The Daily Tar Heel on acorn protection.
As for those poor magnolias, even in the shade of an oak tree, some just didn’t get enough water. Again, according to landscaper Erik Ruediger: “Magnolias were hit especially hard this summer with the drought and the warmest summer on record, along with water restrictions. Magnolias with no signs of growth will likely not rebound this spring. Scratching the bark to see if there is any green underneath is a common way to test and see if there is nutrient flow to the branch or trunk.”
Make sure to mulch well as we approach winter, Erik advises.
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Happy Friday and good luck dodging those nuts---hopefully we’ll see an acorn-clusion to this problem soon!
Frank
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