If your driveway sounds like a drumline and your yard looks like it’s been pelted with pebbles, you’re not imagining things — Massachusetts is dealing with an acorn overload this year.
Oak trees across the state are dropping far more nuts than usual, and it’s leaving many homeowners wondering, What changed? The answer has everything to do with how these trees plan for the future.
1. Mast Year Phenomenon
Oak trees follow a natural cycle called a mast year, when they produce an overwhelming amount of acorns all at once. Scientists believe trees coordinate this massive seed production to outsmart hungry animals like squirrels and deer.
When there are too many acorns to eat, some will survive and grow into new trees. Mast years typically happen every two to five years, depending on weather conditions and tree health…