Pecans are often planted for their nuts, but a young tree may take ten years or longer before it becomes productive. Even with nuts, pecan trees provide an attractive shade tree to the landscape. Planting and caring for the tree properly helps ensure it remains healthy and also ensures productivity once the tree matures.
Choosing Trees
Pecans come as bare root plants or pot-grown trees. Mature trees are also available but they do not provide quicker nut production than seedlings and they cost a lot more. Pot-grown trees have the best survival rate, but bare-root varieties are more readily available. Choose a pecan variety known to grow well in your region. Improved, grafted varieties often offer more disease and insect resistance as well as improved nut production.
Planting
Planting time depends on the type of tree you purchase. Pot-grown pecans can be planted at any time, though during the plant's dormant period is preferred. Bare-root plants must be transplanted to the landscape during the dormant period. When planting, set the tree no deeper than it was at in its pot. Avoid improving the soil in the planting hole. The roots will crowd themselves int eh improved soil instead of establishing in the nearby poorer soil.
Water
Pecan trees require plenty of moisture to thrive and produce. After planting, provide approximately 5 gallons of water immediately. To help keep the moisture near the root zone, build a 5-foot diameter, 6-inch tall mound of soil around the tree. Fill the space inside the mound with the water and allow it soak into the soil. Water the tree at least once a week, providing the equivalent of 2 inches of rainfall at each irrigation. Pecans usually only require watering when they are actively growing from spring through early fall.
Fertilizer Needs
Nitrogen benefits young trees the most as this nutrient encourages rapid, healthy growth. Newly planted trees rarely require fertilization, instead begin fertilizing in the second year. Too much fertilizer too soon causes more harm than good. For mature tree, apply 2 cups of a nitrogen fertilizer for each inch of trunk diameter. Fertilize in early spring before the tree completely awakens from dormancy. If your pecan tree has small, yellow leaves spray it with a zinc foliar fertilizer to improve the foliage quality.
Pruning
Young trees require yearly pruning to train them to a strong shape that is resistant to breaks. Prune the trees to a single leader and cut off any branches that are larger than an inch in diameter on the lower section of the trunk. Pay attention to the crotch angles of the branches in the canopy. Narrow angles are more prone to weakness and breakage. Mature trees require minimal pruning---just enough to remove damaged branches and thin out overgrown canopies.
Weed Control
Young pecans cannot compete with weeds. Keep the area clear in a 3- to 6-foot diameter area around the trunk of the pecan. Apply a 2 to 4 inch layer of mulch to help prevent weed growth. The mulch also helps retain moisture in the soil. Avoid chemical weed controls, as these may damage the pecan tree as well as the weeds. Once the tree matures, its thick shade canopy prevents most weed growth.
Tags: trees require, dormant period, Mature trees, pecan tree, soil Water, tree matures