[heno55]

hi all i have a few acres recently planted with oak and silver birch, the oak seems to be doing well but some of the saplings have so many oak apples on them that they are leaning over, i would like to know if this many are holding back the growth of the trees, i have started picking them off by hand but maybe i am doing more harm than good has anyone got any advice on weather i should keep picking them off or just leave them alone

[Trevor H]

I'd just leave them. From what I've heard they don't do the tree any harm. They are caused by several species of wasps that lay their eggs on the oak leaves. Inside the oak apples are the wasp larvae.