Trying to beat on a bat with a tree might be an even more questionable use of effort. Too large and clumsy a weapon for such a small, fast-moving target.

Note that if you do something to one test subject and then decide something observed later was a result of that undertaking, without multiple test subjects getting the same treatment and an equal number of controls (untreated subjects) being present you don't really know that particular outcome was demonstrated.

I wonder what the neighbors were thinking.

I think this practice is of more benefit to the whacker than the whackee. Kind of like going to a batting cage to let off steam. I believe it's a guy thing. Ken, thank you for brightening my day!
Barb

I recall 15-20 years ago watching a garden show suggesting that. They were dealing with a 2-3 inch caliper sapling, so they were using rolled up newspaper "to promote growth". Never seen or heard about it since...until now, that is.

tj

Well, from my experience watching my friend and her tree, the whacking does work.

She had a young pear tree that would not produce, flowered well, but no fruit for several years. Her grandmother told her to take the baseball bat and whack the trunk of tree for a while. I think the timing was while tree was blooming, and tree did indeed produce a LOT of pears that year. Gramma said it was a common practice, she used it and knew others who did, and trees then produced well after.

Trees were younger, but trees planted with them were producing. This was used on nice looking trees, after several years of no fruit, that owner thought SHOULD be producing.

So one whacking to a tree in it's life. Not needed again. All I heard about getting whacked were fruit trees of various kinds planted on the farm.

Gramma was pretty old when she told my friend to whack the pear tree, and that was MANY years ago. So information would be over 100 years old now.

I would whack the tree, if I thought it would help improve tree, to heck with the neighbors! Thanks for making me remember my friend and me laughing so hard when I saw her whacking the tree, and Gramma saying it would work. Haven't thought of that story for a long time.

ron that is hilarious... hitting a tree with a little black furry thing... lol ...

ken

I recall 15-20 years ago watching a garden show suggesting that. They were dealing with a 2-3 inch caliper sapling, so they were using rolled up newspaper "to promote growth".

That sounds like Jerry Baker.

Nonetheless, physiologically I can't picture the biological mechanism that is promoted/activated by this whacking-smacking activity.

Surely the trunk sway by wind is more effective and widespread in the tree, and what is the correlation of heavier fruiting and spring wind events??

Dan

Again, whacking one tree, without any unwhacked trees involved does not demonstrate that it was effective. The tree may have been ready to bloom anyway, without even one control (untreated pear tree of same age and kind, on same site) present there was no basis for comparison.

I wonder if there is a tree that has evolved expecting animals to rub against the trunk?

I've heard of this being done; haven't seen it & have no first-hand experience with whether it works. Since the question comes up 'Why would it?' I thought I might add a thought.

Is it within reason that the plant may somehow register that it has suffered injury, and divert more resources into reproduction given the possibility that it is injured or its environment may've gotten more adverse?

We pull old wilting blooms of some flowers (e.g.: Petunias) to trigger a greater investment in flower production by stopping the hormonal feedback that inhibits it. Different mechanism, but an example of how reproductive effort can be influenced by environmental factors.

Richard.

I know a man that drives an iron crosstie spike into his pecan trees, says it helps with fruit production.

It is interesting the different results one may get from beating a tree w/bat.
I have heard that they also use this method when trying to lure a Bigfoot into camera range.

lp

You need the sasquatch to pick up the trees to be swung at bats.

Does it make a difference what kind of bat? Maybe a Maple bat will have a different effect than an Ash on an Oak? What about Aluminum bats? That pinging sound will scare away all the squirrels, so is that good or bad?

Back to drrich's interesting comment, I suppose 'registering injury' is possible, but I wonder how the tree would differentiate between wind torque and an object striking the trunk?

Dan

OMG. I can't help it... no relevancy to topic...but... Everyone in the office is looking at me like I'm nuts. ROTFLMBO.

Alexis

Ah, the old adage:
A dog, A wife, A hickory tree,
The more you beat 'em,
The better they be.
(Mind you, now, I'm merely repeating it, not recommending it!)

There have been folks who specialize in creating wooden implements - veritable works of art - from 'figured-grained' woods, burls, etc., who specialize in 'creating' some spectacular woody anomalies, over years/decades' time by bludgeoning selected trees repeatedly, allowing the original lesions to heal before imparting a fresh, new batch of cambium damage by way of incredible damage done by beating the trunk with bat, mallet, etc.

Tired of your dull looking trees?
Broke from buying fertilizer and soil amendments?
Jealous of your neighbors' wonderful tree growth?
We have the answer-- Introducing "Miracle Grow Bat" (TM)
How much would you pay for a bat, made from aged slash pine, that could increase your tree growth by 30-40 even 60 percent?
We've unlocked the anceint secrets of tree growth, used in Germany for generations!
For the next 100 callers we're giving away the "Miracle Grow Bat" for the low, low price of 49.95!
Act now and we'll throw in a free sham-wow just pay separate shipping and handling.

ROTFLMBO,

I'm lost,just can't figure out what that stands for.

lp

Rolling
On
The
Floor
Laughing
My
But
Off

ken

I wonder if the concept of whoopin' the tree is akin to the practice of knife girdling peach trees to increase fruit size? No pain, no gain? Found the link below...
hortster

Here is a link that might be useful: Knife girdling

I've never heard that old age, but I like it! ;)

Josh

"adage," sorry.

I heard of this a while back. I've never gone at a tree w/ a bat, but i have kicked and shaken a tree to see if it makes it stronger. LOL. ROFLLMAOWTFBBQ

Severe, near-life-threatening damage can - and may be utilized to - induce reinvigoration &/or fruiting in senescent fruit/nut trees.
Some older pecan orchards use 'hedging' to force old, non-bearing trees back into production for a period of time, while younger, more productive new trees are coming on. The older trees may be cut back almost to the main trunk on one or two sides each consecutive year(25-50% of mature canopy removed), resulting in vigorous regrowth and reinitiation of short-term nut production. Once the 'replacement' trees begin to come into bearing, the old, senescent trees are removed.

Several years ago, Hurricane Opal swept up through and across much of MS/AL/GA, uprooting many older pecans - but most older non-bearing trees that survived the onslaught were 'shaken up' enough, that the subsequent year resulted in bumper crops of nuts from many of those senescent old trees - and then they slumped back into the relative non-productiveness one would expect of centenarians.

Years ago when the DIF technique was being investigated to replace growth regulating chemicals in g'house crops, much the same story was circulating about keeping internode length shortened and increasing stem size by 'stimulating' the tops of growing seedlings. IOW softly brushing the foliage on a regular schedule. I had forgotten all about that. Same rationale I imagine as not staking trees, to let the wind accomplish strengthening the trunk. I had forgotten all about beating on trees, thanks for the chuckle and the memory.

My folks lived in the city and there were some loutish brats down the street of questionable intelligence who used to regularly beat on the landscape trees up and down the street. Dang, I should kept records. Can't say if it did any good or not, because the utility companies topped them all out until they died premature deaths.

Two years ago, my neighbor threw a lawn party during which some unruly 10-year olds decided to take a baseball bat to his prized Honeylocust Tree. At the time, it seemed the only fair response was to reverse the roles. But discretion prevailed, and we watched in amazement at how the tree repaired broken and splintered bark and returned to previous vigorous status. Nothing scientific here, but I never thought that beating a tree with a baseball bat would ever be discussed in this forum.

pinballer,
I've been hanging around these forums since at least 1996, and the 'beating a tree' topic has come up several times through the years.

Linked below is an online Extension publication, "Figure in Wood: An Annotated Review", by Dr. Harold O. Beals, whom I knew from my childhood. There's a discussion section near the end of the booklet, with some photos and descriptions of artificial production of figured-grain in some tree species.
Might be of interest to some of the regulars here.

Here is a link that might be useful: Figure in Wood

Dan Staley, you're right in this sounds like Jerry Baker, "America's Master Gardener". In his book, Plants Are Like People, he makes reference where he counted the bushel baskets of leaves a Maple tree produced in the Fall. After whacking the tree with a bat, he ended up with way more leaves the following year.
That's about the time I threw the book away.

Years ago, I saw a show where the guy "whacked" the trunks with a piece of a garden hose. (May have been Baker) He said to do it in early spring to stimulate new growth.

20 or so years ago I also heard about the practice of beating trees to increase flower and fruit production. The tree gets into a survival mode and will produce more offspring. Similarly works root pruning.

I love where people who have zero actual experience with something will ridicule it even though it's completely outside their realm of knowledge. Yes, this works. To be specific, it will cause more blossoms/fruit set. I don't know that it translates to more growth in general (i.e., not related to blooming/fruit). A plausible reason is that a stressed tree may be making one last attempt to fruit before dying.

I first came across this when a backhoe bumped into our mango tree several times while spreading dirt, and the fruit set that year was 3 or 4x the normal amount. I've since used this on other fruit trees. I don't know much else about it. But before it blossoms in spring, beat on the trunk enough to cause bruising. A bat or 2x4 for a large established tree. I'd use something smaller for a smaller tree or thinner bark.

"I love where people who have zero actual experience with something will
ridicule it even though it's completely outside their realm of
knowledge."

Dragonfly, I read through the whole thread and don't see what you are talking about. A couple of posters inserted a little humor (the bigfoot thing), but I see nowhere that the practice was "ridiculed". Could you point out what you are talking about?

"Yes, this works. To be specific, it will cause more blossoms/fruit set."

You state this as if you have some kind of knowledge or proof. If so, can you please provide links or references to scientifically peer-reviewed studies or at least a well-written and considered thesis? If anything would be worse than ridicule, it would surely be information stated as fact without any real rational or back up.

"I first came across this when a backhoe bumped into our mango tree
several times while spreading dirt, and the fruit set that year was 3 or
4x the normal amount."

What led you to attribute the larger fruit set to careless use of your backhoe? Is there ANY reason at all to do so? Maybe there's more to your position than you state, but it seems you are pretty far out on a limb here.

Reminds of some archaic saying I read years ago:

A wife and a hickory tree,
The more you beat 'em, the better they be.

You know them odd rotting wounds we always get pictures of on the sides of large transplants which have been in the ground a year or two? It is my theory (unsubstantiated) they are caused by mechanical damage.

So I am concerned beating the trunk of a tree can cause damage to the live layers immediately underneath. could this promote flowering? if you believe stress does. Could it cause cankers, i bet it could.

For sure it could cause, or I should say, promote cankers and pockets of decay in the stem. If that's your thing, fictitious person with a bat, whack away.

Anyone else notice how many of the prescriptions above involve pounding on a tree in spring.......and then the crazy thing leafs out! Simply amazing-a tree leafing out in the spring!

There, that was me ridiculing this idea. I freely admit, and I also freely state, this is worth being ridiculed.

+oM

+oM, I'm just aghast!!! (-;

Oops, I did it again!

+oM

Rejuvenation whooping.

Fruit buds are established in previous years growth. To say they magically appear upon beating seems like a stretch to me. I would guess the additional year of growth would be more relevant.

Jerry Baker, the old guy with the crazy concoctions made from usual home items, used to say used a rolled up newspaper.

Beng, that saying could be applied to nasty husbands also. Poaky1

Beng, that adage was actually mentioned in this Thread in January of 2010.

"A dog, a wife, a hickory tree / the more you beat 'em / the better they be."

Josh

I can honestly say that beating my trees has never entered my mind. I've never even raised a hand to my children.

You get vigor by lots of TLC: plenty of water, plenty of sunshine, well-placed mulch, and light fertilization once a year.

Beating a transplanted tree absolutely does work. A transplanted tree is in shock and hitting it a few times helps it grow blossom and bear fruit/flowers

HU, you say that as if there is no need for proof or explanation. How does your apparently baseless assurance add to this very old conversation?

Rejuvenation whooping.

==>>> there you go.. right up there with rejuvenation pruning ... best reply ever ...

you know.. this was started.. tongue in cheek ... i was glad i could add some humor to those who enjoyed such ... the whole office looking strangely at you while reading at work ... lol ...

ken

BTW: the one i beat .... still ended up the odd one out.. of the 5 red oaks in my circular driveway .... its still about 25% smaller ... 9 years later ...

I let my kid beat our ash trees with his baseball bat now. It won't hurt anything permanent and just might smash a couple EAB silly as a side effect.

I had seen something like this years ago when a so called "Master Gardener" Jerry something I think, well, he had said to beat your tree trunks with a rolled up newspaper. I did it one year with my brand new oaks, of which I only had a few at the time. I don't know if anything was gained by it. I'd never hit em with a bat, though.

I'd seen in a commercial on TV that so called "Bigfoot" bangs a big tree branch against trees in the woods to let other "Bigfoots" know they're there,so, those in the Pacific NW, be careful!!!! LOL!