Site Selection

Well-drained loam or clay-loam soils are best suited for tree growth. Maximum air flow helps to reduce diseases and provides for excellent pollination.

Fertile soils under recent cultivation are desired. Orchard establishment on recent cut-over timberland can be achieved, but such conditions require special attention. A 6.0 to 6.5 ph level is needed.

To maximize time the trees remain in foliage, sites prone to early- or late-season frosts should be avoided.

Planting Your Trees

Only trees grafted by a commercial nursery onto a known rootstock should be planted to ensure healthy and true-to-variety trees. When full grown, 20 - 30 years, trees should be no less than 60 feet x 60 feet apart, while 70 feet x 70 feet is preferred. Trees planted on more dense spacing must be thinned to achieve this space for optimum management and production. Orchard design is critical to achieve maximum pollination.

A five- to seven-foot tree is recommended. January is the desired month for planting. The hole should be large enough for the entire root system without bending or cutting any roots. Neither feeder roots nor tap roots should be cut to fit the tree to the hole. The hole should be filled with soil taken from the hole and packed as the hole is filled. Several gallons of water added to the hole when it is 3/4 full with soil will help to remove air pockets around the roots. The graft union must be left slightly above ground level. Trees planted too deep will not develop sufficient anchor roots. Do not add fertilizer or lime to the tree hole. The final step is to remove the top 1/3 to 1/2 from the new planting to achieve a balance while the root system is getting established. The cut should be made 1 inch above the most prominent bud, which will become the tree's central leader.

Weekly watering of 1- to 3-year-old trees during periods of low rainfall in the summer months is essential for survival and rapid growth. Fertilizing should be based on soil testing, tissue analysis, and general appearance of the trees.

Training and Pruning of Your Pecan Trees

Pecan trees trained with a strong central leader will better withstand high winds and heavy crop loads. The trained trees have a single main trunk with lateral or scaffold limbs growing every 6 to 10 inches, preferably at angles of 60 to 90 degrees.

Training of young plantings begins the first year in the field and continues until the tree's size makes such efforts impractical. Effective training and pruning the first 5 years will lessen efforts in later years.

Fertilization Methods

Fertilization should be based on soil samples and tissue analysis taken each year.

A rule of thumb for fertilizing new-planted and non-bearing trees is to apply one pound of 10-10-10 per tree for each year of growth for the first four to five years. On bearing trees, apply a rate of four pounds of 10-10-10 per inch of trunk diameter measured just below the lowest scaffold branch. Pecan trees need zinc for optimum production. Soil and tissue samples will show if additional zinc or other minor trace elements are needed.

New terminal growth of 10-12 inches each year is necessary for optimum production. Fertility programs need to be adjusted to maintain this level of growth.

Fertilizers should be broadcast underneath the drip line approximately two weeks prior to bud break which normally occurs early in April. Holes should not be used for fertilizing purposes and tilling fertilizer into the soil is discouraged. Feeder roots are within an inch of the soil surface and should not be disturbed.

Consultation with the NC Cooperative Extension Service and the Agronomic Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will help with taking of both soil and tissue samples and interpreting the reports.

Orchard Management

Undesired vegetative growth in pecan orchards is strongly discouraged. Trees will grow better when competition for nutrients and moisture is minimized. Cultivation is not recommended to achieve control because of damage to feeder roots. Mowing will not reduce stress caused by excessive vegetation growth.

Pre-emergent herbicides applied in the spring, combined with a burn-down of existing growth, will afford good vegetative control through the season.

On erodible land, alternate strategies should be considered. Heavy rains on erodible land can cause soil erosion resulting in unwanted exposed anchor roots. Some growers are beginning to use Zoysia, Centipede, or Bermuda grasses in the orchard for soil protection and excellent harvest conditions. Some form of irrigation is highly recommended for pecan orchards. Water, applied when needed, is essential for early tree growth and equally as important in September when nuts are maturing. Low-volume irrigation systems, such as drip or micro-sprinkler systems, have been effective.

Consultation with extension agents in your area will help with taking soil and tissue samples and interpreting the reports. To locate North Carolina State University Extension personnel in your area click this link: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/counties/