As a homeowner, you cannot spray your pecan trees the way commercial growers do. You need to consider disease resistance as a major factor in selecting a pecan variety.
Backyard trees mainly need a built-in resistance to scab, a major disease of pecan trees. For all practical purposes, scab resistance will limit your choices to five fine varieties.
These include: Elliott, Stuart, Curtis, Gloria, Grande Sumner
When selecting a tree, the best size is normally a 5 to 6 foot tree. This size is large enough to have reserves to carry it through some tough times.
February is generally considered the best time to plant pecan trees. But once you've got the tree, you still have a critical choice to make: Where will you plant it?
Probably the most important aspect of planting pecan trees is to make sure that they have enough room to grow. It may be little now, but it's going to be a big tree. Do not plant pecan trees too close to buildings or power lines. It is a good idea to give them 40 to 50 feet on all sides.
A pecan tree produces nuts on the ends of the limbs. If it doesn't have room, it will stop fruiting and begin to grow straight up like a pine tree.
After you've bought a disease resistant variety and picked a roomy place to plant it, dig a hole large enough to get the roots off to a good start, about 2 feet across and 3 feet deep.
The mistake many people make is planting either too deep or too shallow. You need to take note of the dark area that indicates how deep it was planted at the nursery, and plant it at that depth.
One last critical part of getting a pecan tree off to a good start is adequate water. During the first two years of life, pecan trees should be watered weekly in the absence of rain. Also, be sure to mulch around your new pecan trees. Mulch will help to conserve moisture in the soil and suppress weed growth around the tree.
Billy Skaggs
Agricultural Agent Hall County Extension Coordinator
734 East Crescent Drive
Gainesville, GA 30501
Phone:(770)531-6988
Fax: (770)531-3994
Email: [email protected]
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/2/183275