They work for Alan Jackson, and for deer, too.
QUESTION: I plan on planting some mast trees this spring and was thinking about sawtooth oaks. Is that a good choice, or should I consider something else?
ANSWER: Sawtooth oaks are a good choice since they mature quickly and, in time, will produce prolific crops. However, don’t limit yourself to just one species. Planting a variety will widen the window of effectiveness of your mast trees, provide a hedge against annual variations in climate and moisture, and give you more options for where to plant.
White oaks produce acorns every year, given favorable conditions. The acorns of red oak varieties take two years to mature, so production and mast are more variable. Some species do best in well-drained soils while others, like swamp white oak, prefer moister soils.
And don’t forget about chestnuts. They produce more nutritious nuts annually and are less susceptible to late frosts. Adding soft mast species like persimmons, apples, pears and brambles will add even more variety.
— Recent Ask the Biologist Question:
Enough Nuts: Competition for acorns isn’t a big problem for deer and turkeys.
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