Sycamore seedlings

TheGreenMan

I'm currently pulling sycamore seedlings out of my drive, paths, beds, gravel on a daily basis.

We moved in a year ago and I can't remember pulling any out but this year there are LOTS.

I wondered if it is weather dependent i.e. some years there will be a few seeds and other years there will be lots.

I then saw this in the latest GW mag and wondered if you have noticed if some years you have a lot more than others.

I'm pulling out 10/15 every day at the minute!

Dovefromabove

It's called a 'mast year' ... hopefully it won't be as bad every year.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/10/what-is-a-mast-year/ 🤞

TheGreenMan

Ah!  Thanks @Dovefromabove

I love it when I learn something new.  There's always a reason when it comes to nature.

thevictorian

I was just about to say a mast year before I saw dove's reply but it's not something I really associate with sycamores for some reason. It's obvious with the beech trees around us because they have years where they produce nothing but the sycamores in the same area seem to always create endless amounts of seedlings. 
I walk the dog on our local pitch and putt regularly, which is currently filling up with sycamore seedlings all through the grass. A few years ago there must have been millions as literally every square foot of grass had them. So I guess I'm saying they seem to be a prolific tree normally but have years where they become even more prolific, or at least that's the case here.   

JennyJ

There used to be a sycamore in my parents' garden and an ash tree next door. Many hours of my childhood were spent pulling out tree seedlings. I don't remember any year being worse than any other, but I suppose there must have been mast years. Maybe the two trees alternated .

TheGreenMan

Interesting. 

I’ll post back in here same time next year and report back. 👍🏼

thevictorian

Tbh the vast majority of the seedlings don't make it much beyond a first pair of leaves. So although they are a pain they are generally easy to control.

Dovefromabove

We certainly had mast years with our ashes … there were always a lot but some years there were a ridiculous number of seeds. 

Friends with horses and sycamores around their grazing have certainly noted that some years are worse than others. Sycamore seeds contain a toxin dangerous for horses if eaten … and horses do eat them … IME some horses seem to have a death wish 🙄 

JennyJ

A horsey friend of mine says that the more highly bred the horse, the dafter it is in terms of eating anything and everything it can find.

TheGreenMan

JennyJ said:

A horsey friend of mine says that the more highly bred the horse, the dafter it is 

I think the same could be said of people….😂

Dovefromabove

JennyJ said:

A horsey friend of mine says that the more highly bred the horse, the dafter it is in terms of eating anything and everything it can find.

Absolutely agree ... thoroughbreds and show ponies are a complete liability unto themseves, whereas cross-bred cobs and native ponies like Exmoors like the ones we used to have are as tough as old boots and will probably inherit the earth along with the cockroaches.