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We had a really good year for pecans

Posted on 12/7/25 at 12:11 pm
Posted by LegendInMyMind
Member since Apr 2019
71514 posts
Posted on 12/7/25 at 12:11 pm
So far we have shelled 19 pounds off of our single tree, and there are still a good many left to fall. Despite a bit of a drought during the worst time for pecan growth, and my watering very little this year, the tree put on a good crop.

The other issue that had me concerned was the worst Fall webworm infestation I have ever seen. The tree is in our backyard and it looked like a Halloween decoration from all the webs that began to show up in late August. Through to October we dealt with thousands or worms that would invade our back porch. It was a pain in the arse!

Fortunately, the tree was only around 30-40% defoliated, and most of the defoliation didn't occur until the sun wasn't so much a problem for the nuts. The tree is big and I have no way of breaking up the webs, so we just had to deal with it. I will definitely be fertilizing in the early Spring and early Summer to help the tree bounce back from the damage. If I have the webworms again next year I hope I can get an arborist with a bucket truck to take the webs out. It would be worth it to me just to not have to deal with the worms.

Anyway, despite those issues this turned out to be the best year for our tree since 2016. That year was just an unreal mast year with our one tree producing upwards or 60 pounds. We shelled and put up 32 pounds, gave away buckets and bags full, and still had two and half 5 gallon buckets full of pecans that became food for birds and squirrels. I believe that year took a lot out of the tree, and 2018 is when I started actually fertilizing and trying to help it. We are sure to have at least 20 pounds this year, but I will keep cracking and shelling until they stop falling.
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
60468 posts
Posted on 12/7/25 at 2:11 pm to
Same with us…best year we have had in quite a while. Squirrels are going to have a population explosion shortly!
Posted by LegendInMyMind
Member since Apr 2019
71514 posts
Posted on 12/7/25 at 3:20 pm to
quote:

Squirrels are going to have a population explosion shortly!

Yep, and volunteer pecan saplings are going to be coming up everywhere because the forgetful bastards can never remember where they buried their nuts.
Posted by Churchill
Member since Apr 2009
627 posts
Posted on 12/8/25 at 9:54 am to
Not here in SWLA. Gobs of acorns, but no pecans.
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
28081 posts
Posted on 12/8/25 at 11:43 am to
I don't have pecan trees but have 8 or 9 walnut trees at my place (north MS). None are huge but probably 10yrs old or so.

I got a bunch of walnuts this years. A lot. I will clean them and then take them and plant them. Did that with a bunch last year and most came up.

I will plant these in places where those that didn't come up and then in other areas as well.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46457 posts
Posted on 12/8/25 at 12:44 pm to
quote:

volunteer pecan saplings are going to be coming up everywhere
bane of my existence. they set a taproot and spot weld themselves into beds...almost impossible to remove if they get a foothold
Posted by LegendInMyMind
Member since Apr 2019
71514 posts
Posted on 12/8/25 at 12:56 pm to
quote:

bane of my existence. they set a taproot and spot weld themselves into beds...almost impossible to remove if they get a foothold

The only thing I've found that really does them in is cutting them a few inches above the ground and brushing on brush killer a couple of times. It eventually kills the root.

I'm going to pick a well-placed volunteer and try grafting a cutting from my tree onto it. I've been letting a few here and there grow for a couple of years now for this purpose.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46457 posts
Posted on 12/8/25 at 1:58 pm to
thats a good idea.

i lost 2 of my 11 enormous trees in ida, but they are all pretty much at the end anyway. constant large limb drop. i have 12 seedlings going in pots but they are all pretty small still. it is pretty tree as a juvenile
Posted by LegendInMyMind
Member since Apr 2019
71514 posts
Posted on 12/8/25 at 6:53 pm to
If you have a tree you really like the pecans from try either letting one of the volunteers grow or sprouting a pecan and transplanting it where you want it then grafting a cutting when it gets up to size. The grafting method isn't difficult to do, though I haven't done it myself to know how well they take. There are videos on YouTube about it.

I figure you already know, but pecan won't be true if they are saplings from seed pecans. The only way to ensure they will he the same as the tree they came off of is grafting.
This post was edited on 12/8/25 at 6:55 pm
Posted by White Bear
AT WORK
Member since Jul 2014
17221 posts
Posted on 12/8/25 at 8:31 pm to
quote:

I figure you already know, but pecan won't be true if they are saplings from seed pecans. The only way to ensure they will he the same as the tree they came off of is grafting.
sprouted offspring will in all likelihood be a native, which is what you’re saying.
This post was edited on 12/8/25 at 8:32 pm
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46457 posts
Posted on 12/8/25 at 9:39 pm to
yeah i just want them for the tree...i'll be dead before they ever fruit
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