Pine Cones

Jellybaby1

When would be a good time for collecting (dropped) pine cones? I want to make a Christmas arrangement with them this year and I've never done it before so I don't know when is the right time to go looking. Usually they've all been 'took' before I get there.

looksee

Fairly well into the autumn, I think they mostly get blown down by gales as the seeds can disperse while the cone is still on the tree, so they don't need to fall. You may have to go out a couple of times to get them in good conditiion, once they have fallen they collect insects and get damaged.

Jellybaby1

Thank you. Would early November be about right then?

looksee

Probably. Tbh I can't really remember. I do know it was more important to look up into the trees and actually find trees with cones, to look under, than just gaze at the ground!

lottpaul

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Thank you. Would early November be about right then?

That would be the time but as Looksee says find a suitable tree(s) with plenty of cones and if there's a good storm anytime from October onwards you could have a quick look around for early fallers which would be tighter and less likely to split.

Jellybaby1

Thanks. I was out walking in local parks and in the South Dublin hills over the last week and saw lots of small ones on the trees all right. Didn't see any big ones though. Fingers crossed for November then.