What to Do to Treat a Sick Pecan Tree

Insects

• The pecan nut casebearer, hickory shuckworm, nut curculio, pecan weevil and pecan phylloxera are the insects that typically cause the most damage to a pecan tree. The casebearer can be controlled with insecticide when it appears that at least 5 percent of the nut clusters have been damaged. Insecticide to control the hickory shuckworm should be applied in mid-August, when that same spraying is sufficient to handle nut curculio infestation. Insecticide application for the weevil should occur late in the season, while the necessity of chemical control for Pecan phylloxera depends on how heavily it is encumbering the tree.

Pecan Scab

• Pecan scab (Cladosporium caryigenum) is a fungus that overwinters on the tree and comes to life in the spring, spreading fungal spores across the tree and to adjacent specimens. It brings about significant damage to leaves and nuts, often forcing the pecan fruit to fall prematurely and reduce crop yield. The best way to treat a sick pecan tree with this disease is to ensure that resistant varieties of pecan are planted. Early-season control with fungicides can also be helpful.

Environment

• The health of a pecan tree can be maximized by ensuring proper planting. It grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zones 6 through 9 and appreciates the full sunshine, warmth and humidity of southern locations in the country, although its native range stretches from Texas to Illinois. As pecan trees often reach a height of 150 feet at maturity, they require significant space to grow and should be planted at least 35 feet from competition.

Fun Facts

• Pecan is a Native American Indian word spoken by many tribes. The nut of the tree was used by those indigenous Americans long before the coming of European settlers. The nuts were used in stews, cooked in beans, roasted for an easy meal and even pressed into an oil for seasoning. A cross between a pecan and hickory tree known as a hican is more tolerant of cold conditions and therefore grown in more northerly locales.