For a short time in the spring, we carry a limited number of bagged pecan trees, average height 3-4 feet. Treat these as bare root trees, and plant them while they are still dormant for the best results. We are usually sold out by the middle of March, so get them while you can!The Pecan is a large, long-lived tree that is native to our area. While native pecans may provide some nuts in the fall, Native pecans are notorious for being thick shelled, and a lot of work to get at the small nutmeat inside. Many gardeners have chosen to take advantage of the nativeness of pecans, with the added benefit of thin-shell nuts, by incorporating varietial pecans in their landscaping. Notice the word landscaping.., Pecans get too large to be incorporated into the average home fruit orchard, so they are best used where a large shade tree is desired, usually in the background of a landscape where the husks and fallen nuts are less of a bother. (This does present a small problem, in that the removal of the 'debris' around your pecans is an important part of insect and disease control, but if they are planted in the 'back 40', the cleanup is often neglected). Not to burst your bubble, but, unfortunately, consistently high yields of high quality pecans requires insect and disease control beyond what most people want to tackle. This means that you will usually get a fair amount of nuts most years, but some years more, some less. You will probably also share them with the squirrels, deer, wild turkey, raccoons, and crows (many people plant them just to watch and help feed the critters). But you will have a stately legacy tree, one that hopefully your grand children will harvest as well. Pollination:
Pollination is probably the most asked question we get about pecans.
Like all nuts, the pollen and the female flowers have to 'hook up' to produce the seed (the nut). Because the flowers are not large or showy (like apples, for example), there seems to be an air of mystery about how it happens. Pecans are wind-pollinated, and only need a few hours of clear weather with favorable humidity and winds, to pollinate. They can cross-pollinate with trees up to 1/4 mile away. Pecan trees produce separate male and female flowers on the same tree. However, they are usually in bloom at different times on the same tree. The male flowers appear as a tassel-like growth. The female blooms consist of the ovules found at the tips of the new spring growth. Ideally, pecans should be within 300 feet of another variety or a native pecan tree. If you feel that natural pollination will be a problem, plant at least one early- and one late-pollen shedding variety. (For example: a 'Desirable' and, a 'Stuart' or 'Choctaw'). Some varieties shed their pollen before the female flowers are open, and others have receptive female flowers before the male flowers open. The two terms you will hear when it comes to pecan pollinations are:
Protogynous: Is when the Female flower is receptive before the pollen is shed.
Protandrous: Is when the pollen is shed before the Female flower is receptive. Varieties deemed self-pollinating have some overlap in the blooming times, so that (for a few days at least) both male and female flowers are open at the same time. The three varieties we offer have overlapping times of bloom of the male and female flowers.
This makes them relatively self-pollinating, but there is a definite advantage in planting 2 or more varieties to assure better pollination. Where to plant:
Pecans are native to river and creek bottoms with deep, fertile, well-drained soils, which also have a good water-holding capacity. They need at least 3 feet of well-drained soil above the water table to develop a strong root system. They also require large volumes of water to produce nuts, so they naturally establish and develop on the deeper soil types, especially where there is ample underground water. Plant them where there is good surface and internal drainage, where they receive full sun, and are at least 30 feet from buildings, a power line, or other trees. Pecans planted on poorly drained sites never develop into large, productive trees. Trying to 'fix' poorly drained soils never really works. The tree needs a lot of 'root room' and it is not really practical to try to modify the soil on the scale that would make a difference. How do I tell if drainage is adequate? -You may ask. Well, here's a way that doesn't take too much effort:
Dig a hole 2-3 feet deep, about a foot of so in diameter.
Flood the hole with the water from a 5 gallon bucket, and
See how long it takes for the water to drain down out of the hole.
If the water drains out in a half an hour or less, there is usually no problem with poor drainage.
If there is standing water left in the hole after an hour, it is definitely not the place for a pecan.
We will often repeat with a second bucket of water (and another half hour) just to be sure.
| 
