Acorns in Abundance

Oak trees across Texas are producing huge crops of acorns. Oak trees tend to produce one bumper crop every two to seven years. The more common explanation for this year’s heavy crop is the stress brought on by last year’s drought conditions and other environmental conditions.

Most authorities indicate the reason is more complicated than drought conditions alone. Whatever factors influence a heavy acorn production year, they were at play this year as oaks in other regions of the U.S. (Including the New England area), are producing exceptional loads of acorns.

Yes, walking barefoot in a lawn populated with an overabundance of acorns would be challenging. My neighbor knows the shade provided by his oak trees during the heat of a warm summer more than offset an occasional nuisance such as acorns on the driveway. Most of us have appreciated the cooler temperature and gentle, refreshing breeze under a large shade tree on an otherwise hot, still day.

Trees in the landscape provide numerous aesthetic, environmental, and economic benefits, including increasing the value of a home and reducing air conditioning costs.

The value of trees in the home landscape reminds me of a story about two neighbors. A young father was raking leaves in his yard when he noticed his retired neighbor digging a hole. When asked what he was doing, the elderly gentleman told him he was planting a tree.

The young neighbor just smiled and chuckled to himself as he asked, “Why are you doing that? That tree won’t be fully grown for 20 or 30 years, and you’ll probably never benefit from it.”

To that the elderly gentleman told his neighbor, “I know that, but aren’t you glad that someone planted that tree in your front yard years ago so that you could enjoy its shade and so your kids can climb its stately limbs?” A sobering perspective indeed.

Whether you are putting in new trees or caring for existing trees, it’s worth the time and effort to provide the proper management needed to produce healthy, vigorous growing trees.