Large acorn crops come in 3- or 4-year cycles. Check out this article.

Here is a link that might be useful: National Wildlife article

What a fascinating article! Thanks for post Cecilia! :-D

From Eastern Shore... 2003 was like hailstorms of acorns. 2004, they were here too just not so many. Just ask my lawnmower (yes, I mean the machine, not the person) Also, If you really want to know, wait until spring and look in the woods under Oak trees you should see plenty of seedlings.

Another possible factor: squirrels. They were able to raise their entire litters this year due to the protein boost provided by all those cicadas. Then come fall, no insect snacks -- so greater inroads on other food sources such as acorns and my tulip bulbs, even though the latter are saturated with Ro-Pel. The little buggers are too warm to hibernate, and too hungry to pass up anything edible. They even tore open a small hole in the screen on my back porch to get to the bowl of dry catfood... yes, it wasn't the neighbor's mastiff -- too high off the ground for him.

LynnT

Great article! Unfortunately all of my oaks are on different cycles and we get bombarded every year. This year appears worse than ever. If someone could find a way to stop the drop of acorns, they would make a fortune! What a pain in the neck if you garden in the woods! Suz

The oak at school had tons of acorns. The kids' pockets were filled everyday after recess. I have an oak at home that has been here for @15 years and hasn't dropped any acorns in the 4 yrs I have lived here. How old does an oak have to be before it produces seeds?

Jan

Jan -- depends. Very roughly, maybe 15-25 yrs, but varies w/species & conditions. The Northern Red oak @ my parents' previous place took about ~15 yrs, then started producing huge amounts every couple yrs. OTOH, a 55' tall (30 yr old) Pin oak on a friend's lawn has never produced more than a handfull.

Some hybrid oaks produce only after a couple yrs of age.

Squirrels also I thought that too till I saw our donkeys and horses eatting them.

OMG Im in mid michigan and do i have alot of acorns, so bad that I cant rake them up, we've mowed, racked, plucked it is insane the worst ive ever seen.

And other nuts too I'm sure. (6 year old post)