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Started By
Message
My large pecan and hackberry trees drop leaves during droughts. Help!
Posted on 8/26/25 at 2:06 pm
Posted on 8/26/25 at 2:06 pm
I have 3 large pecan trees and 2 large hackberry trees in my back yard, which is probably about 1/8 acre ish. They are all pretty large. I haven't had a decent crop of pecans drop in probably close to a decade. Before that, there were a lot of pecans, but the now large hackberry trees were pretty young then and not sucking up a ton of water I presume.
About 5 years ago, the hackberry trees started dropping leaves during long droughts and extreme heat. Sometimes it is just some of the leaves...a couple times it has been most of the leaves. I noticed my pecan trees, mainly the largest one, started dropping some leaves (not substantial amount) last year. Up until last year, I had not been good about watering the yard. The last couple years, I've been a lot better about doing it but can only do it twice per week b/c of city restrictions. A lot fewer leaves have dropped this year from the Hackberry trees, but still some from the pecan trees. We've also gotten a lot more rain than normal too.
I don't have an irrigation system, so I can only water on hose end sprinklers or other devices. Mainly I've been using this type of sprinkler:
I'm worried that I'm going to lose some of my trees, especially my largest pecan tree. What more can I do to help ensure they stay healthy? Use another irrigation method? Introduce nutrients into soil?
About 5 years ago, the hackberry trees started dropping leaves during long droughts and extreme heat. Sometimes it is just some of the leaves...a couple times it has been most of the leaves. I noticed my pecan trees, mainly the largest one, started dropping some leaves (not substantial amount) last year. Up until last year, I had not been good about watering the yard. The last couple years, I've been a lot better about doing it but can only do it twice per week b/c of city restrictions. A lot fewer leaves have dropped this year from the Hackberry trees, but still some from the pecan trees. We've also gotten a lot more rain than normal too.
I don't have an irrigation system, so I can only water on hose end sprinklers or other devices. Mainly I've been using this type of sprinkler:
I'm worried that I'm going to lose some of my trees, especially my largest pecan tree. What more can I do to help ensure they stay healthy? Use another irrigation method? Introduce nutrients into soil?
This post was edited on 8/26/25 at 2:09 pm
4
Posted on 8/26/25 at 3:39 pm to SUB
I don't really have any advice, but I have a damn River Birch that does the same thing. My gutters are full of leaves right now and need to be cleaned out.
Posted on 8/26/25 at 7:25 pm to SUB
Might be scab on the pecans or some other leaf fonk, wet summers will cause scab and ruin the nut crop, or might be aphids, there’s a chance they will put out new leaves, at least partially, soon.
I’ve seen lots of hackberry/sugar berry with aphids (etc), leaves turn black and fall off. That’s my guesses.
I’ve seen lots of hackberry/sugar berry with aphids (etc), leaves turn black and fall off. That’s my guesses.
This post was edited on 8/26/25 at 7:26 pm
Posted on 8/26/25 at 7:40 pm to REB BEER
River birch dump crap year round, I did not enjoy the one we had a couple of houses ago.
Poplars also have a late summer drop, whether from heat or drought they will lose 1/4-1/3 of their leaves. Or at least all the ones around here do that, tulip poplars in particular. Other trees probably do the same when hit by heat/drought, doesn't mean they are dead but I would deep water anyway.
Poplars also have a late summer drop, whether from heat or drought they will lose 1/4-1/3 of their leaves. Or at least all the ones around here do that, tulip poplars in particular. Other trees probably do the same when hit by heat/drought, doesn't mean they are dead but I would deep water anyway.
Posted on 8/26/25 at 8:50 pm to SUB
Are the pecans native or an improved variety? It's tough to tell and you may need an expert to figure that out. Native pecans are very tough and don't need much water. I have many around me in Dallas that get no additional water and drop loads pecans every year. An improved variety is a lot more susceptible to drought and disease and if they aren't sprayed for fungus periodically, will not produce pecans. So it's possible you have an improved variety. Hackberries are relatively short lives trash trees so I would plant some quality trees now so when those hackberries start constantly dropping branches and becoming a nuisance, you'll have the new trees to a decent size and you can remove the hacks. Another thing you can do to help is mulch out to the drip line of the trees keeping mulch 6-12" away from the trunks. A third thing is air spading the soil if it's compacted but you need an arborist with the equipment to do that.
This post was edited on 8/26/25 at 9:02 pm
Posted on 8/26/25 at 9:04 pm to Zappas Stache
How do you tell if the pecan trees are native or improved?
Problem with the hackberries is that they are so big now and the yard is fully shaded by them and the pecans, so it may be hard to grow any other trees until they eventually are removed.
Problem with the hackberries is that they are so big now and the yard is fully shaded by them and the pecans, so it may be hard to grow any other trees until they eventually are removed.
Posted on 8/26/25 at 9:11 pm to SUB
Do you by chance know what variety you have? Where are you located?
Posted on 8/26/25 at 9:22 pm to SUB
quote:
How do you tell if the pecan trees are native or improved?
I don't know which is why I said you need an expert.
quote:
the yard is fully shaded by them and the pecans, so it may be hard to grow any other trees until they eventually are removed.
Young trees grow best in the shade of mature trees, that's the way nature works.
Posted on 8/26/25 at 10:05 pm to SUB
quote:
How do you tell if the pecan trees are native or improved
Typically by the size of the pecans or the age of the tree. It the pecans are the diameter af a man’s thumb, they are typically improved. If they are the size of your index finger air smaller, they are native variety.
Posted on 8/26/25 at 11:06 pm to Zappas Stache
Thanks man. I don’t know shite about trees so this is helpful. I may plant more pecans or some live oaks.
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