"JNJ" wrote in message ...
Has anybody heard of this, taking and hitting a tree with a baseball bat
or
stick to shock the tree into blooming. My cousin has done it with his
apple
trees and he says it works. My mom says she has also done this. Anyone
ever
heard of this?

They were just talking about that on a segment on DIY the other day as well.
The idea is that the impacts (not too hard) convince the tree it is
threatened. When a tree feels its survival is threatened it typically
produces fruits/seeds. I have to admit, when I first saw the segment I
laughed -- the host first says that you have to threaten a tree then says...
"To do this, get a wood baseball bat...." then he proceeds to swack the tree
4 times. I suppose the theory is sound, although anyone who knows what
you're doing will probably look at you funny. :P

James

I tend to do that with my pear trees. "This summer you will produce
lotsa pears, capiche?" and snap a sucker for emphasis. or I leave a
dead fish at their feet. Works every season. I also give them a lot of
wood chips, and it is cold in the winter in Michigan.